Dalabon Emotion Glossary Second draft, June 2014
Compiled by Maïa Ponsonnet
In collaboration with Philip Ashley, Lily Bennett, Queenie Brennan, Nikipini Daluk,
June Jolly-Ashley, Maggie Tukumba, † Jimmy Wesan.
Data collected by Maïa Ponsonnet thanks to the support of
the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
and the Endangered Languages Documentation Programme.
With some data from the Dalabon Dictionary (Evans, Merlan and Tukumba 2004),
as well as from Sarah Cutfield, Salome Harris and Sebastian Harris’s corpora.
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 1
Dalabon Emotion Lexicon
This lexicon lists all the emotion terms documented to date. It includes examples from various corpora, including
many published in Evans, Merlan & Tukumba’s first Dalabon Dictionary (2004) (DD). There are also some
examples from other researchers (SalH: Salome Harris; SebH: Sebastian Harris; Sarah Cutfield: SC).When a
larger number examples are provided for one lexical unit, examples are numbered for convenience.
B – b
brang-no Variant: barng-no. adj.
1) Brang-no means dangerous, venomous, harmful,
aggressive. It often applies to inanimates, typically
vegetables, plants etc. (1, 2), where it can mean
‘poisonous’. It sometimes translates as ‘poison’ (3).
It can also apply to animates: animals, natural
forces, and humans sometimes (4). Kriol: tjikiwan.
► (1) Mey kah-barng mak da-nguyan wudji-don
(DD). If the fruit is poison don’t eat it or you will
die.
► (2) Wowh korn-no nunh ngorr ku-derrmu. Kah-
barngbarng. Yeah, the thorns may sting. It’s
dangerous.
► (3) Kah-barng-dadjkanj yila-lng-nguninj barng-
dih-no (DD). It removed the poison and we ate it
without the toxins.
► (4) Enelsi nidjarra, barngbarng-ngong. Mani-
kun munguyh bulah-dudunginj. The NLC [council
administering the land], they’re nasty. They kept
harassing him about money.
Syn: yirru (partial).
2) Brang-no also applies to things that are not
dangerous but unpleasant (strong smell, strong taste:
bitter, sour etc.).
► Kah-yeminj-brangbrang. It stinks really bad.
► Wah nunh burdubburdu bulah-bardminj njel
kah-marnu-yowminjyi tap wanjkih nunh yila-lng-
kolh-nguninjyi bah kolh-barng-no, bah yilah-dja-
kolh-nguninjyi (DD). They chopped that paperbark
tree, and it flowed for us like a tap, we drank the
water, it was salty but we still drank it.
D – d
dalu-yer(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘mouth+avoid interactions for
fear of others’.
Avoid speaking when intimidated, not speak in fear
of others, be too shy to talk.
► Kardu keninjh bulu kah-yolh-ngun. Kinikinikun
mah mak bala-bon miding-kah. Mak bulnu yila-
marnu-yenjdjung. Kardu balah-dalu-yermu, kardu
balah-mehdu-yermu. I don’t know what’s wrong
with them. The other ones don’t come to the
meetings. They don’t talk to people. They’re
ashamed to speak [ashamed from the mouth], or
they’re too shy to interact [ashamed from the chest].
djare adj.
Djare means like, love or want. It can denote taste,
for instance for types of food (1), or affection, either
for relatives (2), or sexually oriented affection (3).
When talking about love for a person, benefactive
constructions are normally used. Benefactive
constructions are also sometimes used with
inanimates, when the sense is ‘like’ rather than want
(4). Conversely, djare can be used without a
benefactive even with an animate, when the sense is
‘want’ (5). Djare is also often found followed by a
complement clause (6, 7), where the sense is usually
ambiguous between ‘like’ (‘feel like’) and ‘want’.
► (1) [Kofi] mak nga-djare. I don’t like coffee.
► (2) Yarrah-djudjminj wulkun-djan-wurd-ngan,
bukah-marnu-yininj kakkak-burrng-kah. Kanh
bukah-marnu-yininj djah-marnu-djare. Me and my
little sister have come back, she says to their
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 2
grandmother. I love you she tells her.
► (3) Djah-kakku-marnu-djare. He [your husband]
really loves you.
► (4) Nunh kanh naddo ngah-marnu-djare. I like
bush peanuts.
► (5) Ngey nah-ngan ngah-djare kah-yin kanh
wurdurd-wurd. I want my mummy, the little girl
says. [The child says, in English, ‘I want mummy’.]
► (6) Kardu ngah-djare ngah-boniyan, dohkardu
kahke, ngah-ningiyan. Maybe I’ll feel like going, or
maybe not, I’ll stay.
► (7) Mak nga-djare bulah-medmo-naHnan. I don’t
want/like them to look at me as it makes me feel
ashamed.
Syn: ngerh-waddi; ngurlk-di; ngurlk-karlh(mu).
Ant: warndih.
dje-bruH(mu) Variant: dje-burH(mu); dje-
bruh(mu); dje-burh(mu). v.i. Lit:
‘nose/nostril/face+blow’.
1) Be sulky (1 to 3) or less frequenty feel sad, upset,
worried (4). Characterized by the fact that the
person doesn’t talk, doesn’t laugh, refuses to take
part in shared activities with others. Kriol:
djelopnos, shwelopnos (<Eng ‘swell up nose’).
► (1) Kah-dje-burHmu, mak ka-yolh-redjing. He’s
getting sulky, he doesn’t smile.
► (2) Keninjh-kun-ngan kah-marnu-dje-burHmu
mak dja-yenjyenjdjung mak dja-redjing munguyh
djah-dje-burHmu korreh djah-yolh-naninj bu-
dabarnghkun (DD). Why are you sulky on me, you
don’t talk or laugh, you’re always sulking, I already
saw how you felt yesterday.
► (3) Dah-yawoyh-marnu-yenjdjungi kardu. Bah
djah-lng-djud-ngalHminj, djah-lng-komhkomhminj,
djah-dje-bruHminj. [After a small altercation.] You
tried to say something to her maybe. But you left
without looking at her, you left angry, you were
upset.
► (4) Ngey-karn ngah-yawoh-dje-bruhmuninj,
ngah-yawoh-woriworimhminj wurdurd-ngan-kun.
And me, I was feeling sad again, I was worried
about my children.
2) To put on a sad or dark face, a wince, with a clear
negative expression (rictus, frowning etc.). This can
result from an emotional state, or from a physical
state (pain).
► Djah-dja-kakku-milh-kalang-yidnjarrun djah-
kakku-dje-bruHminj. Djah-karru-yidjnjarrun.
You’re holding your forehead and you’ve got a
really dark expression. You’re holding your legs.
djong-bruk adj. Lit: ‘FEAR+dry’.
1) Courageous, brave, someone who is not easily
scared. This applies to fear of others (social threat)
as well as to fear of ‘natural’ threats.
► Ngey mak nga-djong-mun. Ngeh-ni djarra.
Ngah-djong-bruk. [When camping out.] I’m not
scared. You and me camp here. I’m brave.
► Mak bulu ka-marnu-djong-mun. Bulu kah-
marnu-yenjdjung, kah-kangu-bruk. Kah-djong-
bruk. She’s not afraid of people. She talks to
people, she’s self-confident. She’s brave.
2) Well-behaved, tame.
► Rolu ngokorrng, kah-djorng-buk (DD). It’s our
dog, it’s tame.
djong-marrun v.i. Lit: ‘FEAR+grap+REFL’.
Be afraid, scared, apprehensive.
► Wurdurd balah-bobon muna-no, balah-djong-
marrun. Balah-djong-mun. Kardu rakkalk-kun
balah-djong-marrun. When children go out at night,
they are scared. They’re afraid. Like they’re afraid
of rakalk, revenge perpetrators sent by enemies.
► Kah-buh-moyh-no mahkih, kah-yidjnjan
keninjhbi peismeika. Yilah-marnu-djong-marruninj.
[Someone vanished in the bush for a few hours.]
Also because he’s sick, he’s got a whatyucallit a
pacemaker. We feared for him.
Syn: djong-mun; mud-kele-mun.
djong+movement/posture v.i. Lit:
‘FEAR+movement/posture’.
DJONG is not really a word in itself but it can
combine with verbs of movement or postures in
order to mean ‘leave in fear’, ‘run away in fear’,
‘stand in fear’ etc.
► Ngarrah-djong-bon. [...] Nunh, nurrah-ban.
[When the war broke out] we got scared and left.
That’s when we left.
► Bulah-bengkan, bulu kah-kiyan, kanh balah-lng-
djong-kurlkkurlmu. They know that they are going
to [catch them and] take them away, this is why they
flew away in fear.
► Kanh wakwak-burrkunh barrah-waddi, bah
burrah-marnu-djong-kalHminj. The two crows
stand high up [in the tree], as they got up in fear [of
the jackal].
► Manjh kanh, yilah-nan yalah-djong-worhdi.
Snakes, when we see them we stand still in fear.
djong-mun v.i. Lit: ‘FEAR+INCH’.
Be afraid, scared, apprehensive. This generic term
applies to humans and animals alike and can
describe reactions to all sorts of threats: natural,
supernatural, social etc.
► Muna-no kaye-bon kanh kirdikird, kah-djong-
mun. Kah-bengkan kardu buya bukah-wan, dolku-
no-kah. When she goes around at night, she’s
scared. Like she knows that spirits could be
following her, in her back.
► Balah-dja-ninginj kanidjah, mamam-bulng-
dorrungh na, kakkak-bulng. Balah-djong-mininji
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 3
bah, bulu bulu-buy. They’d stay there, with their
grandfather and grandmother. They used to be
scared like, that someone would hit them.
► Kah-yinmiwong yarrah-burruni mey-ngan-kih-
kah bah, mak nga-marnu-dengu-rokey. Ngah-
marnu-worh-danginj. Mak nga-marnu-djong-muni.
She was telling me like she wanted to fight to get
some food from me, but I stood strong against her
[my feet didn’t move for her]. I stood up against her.
I wasn’t afraid of her.
► Rolu kah-wungurr-narrun, kah-djong-mun
yelung kah-njokmu (DD). The dog’s looking at his
reflection in the water, he’s scared and he’s barking.
► Kah-kolh-bawong, kah-yelung-djong-minj (DD).
He left the grog, he was afraid.
► Biyi balah-burlhminj rok-djerrngu, bah ngah-
djong-mun (DD). People have come out, strangers,
and I’m afraid.
Syn: djong-marrun; mud-kele-mun.
djong(-no) NA. This is not a full-fledged Dalabon word
in synchrony, but speakers use it exceptionally with
the senses ‘in fear’, ‘scared’, ‘fear’.
► Balaye-drongminji nunh kirdikird-bulng, balah-
wurdiminji nidjarra balah-ninj. Djong-no balah-
wurdiminji (SebH). When they used to drink, their
wives would run away and stay here. In fear, they
ran away.
► Djong-dih-no kah-dja-bon, mak ka-djong-mun.
He has no fears, he doesn’t get scared.
► Kenbo madj bulah-lng-kaninj, mudikah bula-ye-
dordminj karr-walung, djong-no (SalH). Then they
took their stuff, climbed to the top [of the hill] with
the cars, in fear [of the flood].
djud-kurlkkurlkan v.i. Lit: ‘back of
neck/nape+?BEND’.
To bend down, for instance bend head down, or
bend whole body down. Contextually: be sad, sulky.
► Nunda njing dja-djud-kurlkkurlkan kardu
narrah-durruninj wanjh djah-yolh-weh-mun. And
you, you are bending down, maybe they talked
badly to you, and therefore you are sad.
Syn: djud-kurl(mu).
djudkurl(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘back of neck/nape+?BEND’.
1) Bend head or back down. Contextually: be sad,
sulky.
► Djah-dengu-naHnarrun, djah-djud-kurlmu.
You’re looking at your feet, you’re bending your
head down.
Syn: djud-kurlkkurlkkan.
2) Lower one’s eyes, avert one’s gaze to avoid eye
contact.
► Balak-ngu mak darnkih dja-boniyan, mak dja-
redj-nahbuyan kirdikird kah-djud-kurlmu biyi kah-
dja-djud-kurlmu (DD). You can’t go close to your
cousin, you won’t laugh, a woman will go around
(her) and also a man will lower his gaze.
djurrk adj.
Be happy, rejoice.
► Mardadubba kanh yila-nan kah-korlerrmu,
yilah-bengkan kahnunh, wah kah-dadjmu, nunh
yalah-lng-djurrk-mun, yalah-djurrk-mun kanh wah
kah-lng-dadjmu (DD). When we see the tall grass
and the seeds falling, then we know that the wet
season is finishing up, and we’re happy that the
rains are coming to an end.
► Kah-yaw-yolh-mon. Yo, kah-djurrk-mun nah-no
kah-winjhminj. The little one is happy. Yeah, he’s
cheerful, his mother won [at a game].
djurrkkan v.t.
Stir up, cause to become excited, and aggressive.
► Duyu bulu kah-djurrkkan, kanunh yawurrinj-
wurd wirrimah kirdikird-wurd, kanh duyu-yih bulu
kah-kangu-yirru-djurrkkan, ngorr wubulu-bubun.
The power of taboo might stir them up, young men
or young girls, the power of taboo stirs up their
anger [the anger of their belly], they might harm us.
Syn: kangu-yirru-djurrkkan.
dolku-ngabbun v.t. Lit: ‘back +give’.
1) Be on bad terms with someone, avoid interaction
with someone because of some grudge after a
conflict. Kriol: gibitbekbon (<Eng. ‘give back
bone’).
► Barrah-durruninj, mak barra-lng-marnu-kangu-
yerrkminj, mak buka-marnu-kangu-yerrkmi Maïa-
yih yibung mah mak buka-marnu-kangu-yerrkmi
François-yih, bah munguyh barrah-dolku-
ngabburruninj. They had arguments, they didn’t get
over their resentment, Maïa wouldn’t forgive him
and François wouldn’t forgive her, so they remained
on bad terms for a long time.
► Mak barra-kakku-durrun bah, barrah-dja-dolku-
ngabburrun. They are not really arguing, but they
are on bad terms (and do not speak to each other).
2) Turn one’s back on someone.
► Narrah-dolku-ngabburrinj, narrah-dolku-
dirhdirhmurrun. You’re turning your back on each
other, your back are touching each other’s.
dolku-yermu v.i. Lit: ‘back+avoid interactions for fear
of others’.
1) Feel a presence, usually a scary presence in
strange or unsafe surroundings, typically in the
bush.
► Biyi rakalk kardu kah-bong kahnunda, kardu
kah-djang-kang bah kardu bulah-borlhwiyan. Kah-
dolku-yermu. A man or a ‘revenge bush black
fellow’ might be coming there, he might be hunting
and they’re following him. He’s feeling insecure,
scared.
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 4
2) Feel the presence of someone in one’s back.
► Balah-warlkkarrinj, bulu kah-wonang, kah-
dolku-yerminj. They’re hiding, he hears them, he
feels a presence [behind him].
K – k
kangu-bak(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘belly+break’.
Forgive, get rid of negative feelings, of resentment,
after a conflict. Kriol: polodjais.
► Malung narrah-woh-ngurrung-durrinj.
Bah dubmi mahkih, dah-marnu-kangu-bakminj,
yibung mahkih djah-marnu-kangu-bakminj. Narrah-
lng-yenjdjung. You didn’t quite get on for a while.
But now, you’ve forgiven him, and he’s forgiven
you. You speak to each other.
► Murnu kanh mak djeil-kah ngah-yungiyan.
Yarrah-dja-lng-ningiyan. Kenbo wurdurd-yih njerr
burrah-men-werremu. Yibung-karn mah kah-lng-
kangu-bakmiyan, ngey-karn mah ngah-kangu-
bakmiyan. I won’t send him to jail [for being violent
with me]. We’ll stay here together. And the children
will make us forget our conflicts. He’ll forgive me,
and me too, I’ll forgive him.
kangu-barrhka v.t. Lit: ‘belly+make crack’.
Cause surprise to someone, cause someone to feel
emotionally shocked.
► Kardu yibung djah-marnu-kolmukolmu, kardu
njing mahkih dah-marnu-kolmukolmu. Narrah-woh-
kolmukolmurrun. Bah mak narra-narrun. Kenbo
djah-djawiyan, barna djeh-yongiyan kah-yin. Djah-
kangu-barrhkiyan. Maybe he is flirting with you,
and you, you are flirting with him. You are flirting
with each other a bit. But you’re not seeing each
other. Then, he’ll ask you, what about sleeping
together he says. You’ll get a shock.
► Bulah-kangu-barrhkanj. Mimi-no kah-doninj.
They gave her a shock [by announcing bad news].
Her grandson died.
kangu-barrh(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘belly+crack’
1) Be surprised. Kangu-barrh(mu) describes
surprises, whether with positive, neutral or negative
emotional connotations. Kriol: atkrek.
► Djah-kangu-barrhminj dabarngh, kanh Balang
dah-nang kardabun-kun. You were surprised
yesterday, when you saw Balang [my grandson, who
you had not seen for several years], so tall.
► Biyi bulnu kah-nan, nunh rok-djerrngu balah-
burlhmu, nunh kah-kangu-barrhmu. When he sees
people, strangers coming, he is surprised.
Syn: wurrh(mu) (partial).
2) Undergo an emotional shock, typically when
hearing bad news about a relative (someone has
died, had an accident).
► Kah-kangu-barrhmiyan. Kardu kah-dja-doniyan
kardu kahke. Kah-kangu-barrhmiyan kah-ruyan.
[Someone hears that her grandson had an accident.]
She’ll get a shock. He might die, or not. She’ll get a
shock, she’ll cry.
kangu-berlh adj. Lit: ‘belly+?’.
(Not fully attested.) Be indulgent, indulge in
compassion.
► Bukah-dja-ngabbong munu kanh, kangu-berlh-
wurd bukah-ngabbong kanh loli. Bah
buyirrhwalung mak buka-marnu-djare. She gave it
to him, just like that, out of compassion she gave
him lollies. But deep inside she doesn’t love him.
kangu-bola Variant: kangu-yabola. adj. Lit:
‘belly+sensitive (or adv. slow)’.
Be a good person: nice and generous with others,
not angry, not aggressive or selfish. Kangu-bola can
refer to a momentary state or to a disposition.
► Nunda djah-kakku-yirru-ngalminj. Nunda djah-
kangu-bola-miniyibon. [Describing photos.] Here
[on this photo] you were really angry. On this one
you’re softening.
► Kirdikird nunh kanunh mey kah-ngabbun.
Kangu-bolabola-no. Mey kah-ngabbun, kah-kangu-
bola-no. This woman shares food. Kindly. She
shares food, she’s kind, generous.
Syn: kangu-yowyow(mu) (partial). Ant: kangu-
murduk (partial).
kangu-bruk adj. Lit: ‘belly+dry’.
Be self-confident, not scared, in social interactions,
conflict in particular.
► Bulah-marnu-njon-marrun, biyi kardu kirdikird
yang djehneng bulah-buyan. Bah, kah-kangu-bruk,
mak ka-dengu-rokan. They gather around him,
everybody, men and women, as if they were going
to hit him. But he’s strong, he won’t move [he won’t
move a foot].
► Tamara kaye-bon nahda daun, mak bulu kah-
marnu-djong-mun. Bulu kah-marnu-yenjdjung, kah-
kangu-bruk. When Tamara goes to town, she’s not
afraid of people. She talks to them, she’s self-
confident.
kangu-burrama adj. Lit: ‘belly+good’.
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 5
Kriol: gudbinji. Syn: kangu-mon; yolh-burrama.
Ant: kangu-weh-no; kangu-weh-mun; kangu-
murduk (partial).
1) Be a good person, of good character, friendly.
► Mak bala-kangu-burrama kahke. Balah-ni
munguyh, mak bala-yenjdung, mak yala-kurlkkarrun
kahke. Wadda-njelng-kih-kah yalah-ni. They’re not
friendly at all. They stay there (at home) all day,
they don’t talk, we don’t pay visits to each other.
We stay in our own houses.
2) Feel good emotionally.
► Balah-yolh-yordminj ke, balah-kangu-
yowyowmu. Bonj, barrah-lng-kangu-burrama-minj.
They’re relieved indeed, they feel better. That’s it,
they’re happy again.
kangu-dadj(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘belly+end’. See wurr-
dadjka v.t. ‘intestine+cut’, ‘hurt stomach’.
Become (or be) very angry, usually when the
exasperating trigger lasted for a while. Kangu-
dadj(mu) can be used for petty anger or more
serious conflicts. Kriol: sikentaid (<Eng. sick and
tired).
► Ngorr burrah-bengbun, kanh ngarrah-lng-
kangu-dadjmu, bunu ngurrah-dung. [The children]
keep making noise, so that we’ll lose temper, get
very angry, and scold them.
► Kah-lng-kakku-kangu-dadjminj-bulng. [...] Bulu
kah-lng-kodj-dukkang wulungmunguyh. [After years
of conflict with them] he got fed up and became
very angry at them. He’ll remain upset with them
forever.
Syn: kangu-wurlh(mu); cf. yirru and kangu-yirru
compounds.
kangu-damh(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘belly+blocked’.
Feel bad, like one feels when hearing that a close
and beloved relative just passed away. Cf. nguh-
damh(mu) ‘intestine/excrement+blocked’, ‘be
constipated’.
► Mulah-ngu kah-lng-kurnh-wudjminj, djilah-
marnu-yininj. Djah-lng-yawoh-kangu-damhminj,
mak dja-kangu-yolh-mon-mini kahke. Your aunt
(mother’s sister) has passed away, they told you.
You felt terrible, you didn’t feel good at all.
kangu-darridj(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘belly+shake in agony’.
Be very angry, furious, so angry that one is ready to
hit or fight.
► Ngah-kangu-darridjdarridjmu, malung ngah-
boniyan bunu ngah-niyan, nidjah yalah-burruniyan,
ngah-kangu-darridjdarridjmu-burrng. I’m very
angry at them, I’ll go there right away I’ll see them,
and we’ll fight, I’m furious against them.
Syn: mo-barrun.
kangu-darr(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘belly+?’.
Feel bad, worry, in particular about people: when a
close relative is sick, or when losing someone
(grief), or, occasionally, when someone is absent
(miss). Kriol: wori.
► Njel kah-marnu-dorrung-murduk-bong. Mak ka-
lng-moyh-yongi, kahke. Njel ka-yang-woninj...
Yalah-lng-dudjminji yilah-lng-marnu-kangu-
yowyowminj. Yolh-mon-kih yalah-dudjminj, mak
yila-marnu-kangu-darrmi, kahke. He got stronger
[for us]. He’s no longer sick, it’s over. He talked to
us... When we came back [from visiting him in
hospital], we were very pleased about him. We
came back very happy, we don’t worry about him
anymore.
► Buyirrhwalung ngah-dja-kangu-darrminj
murlah-ngan-kun. Mak nga-beng-wudjmi. Deep
inside I was still grieving for my mother’s sister. I
had not forgotten.
► Maïa, derrh-no djah-boniyan... Djilah-karra-
marnu-kangu-darrmiyan. Maïa, you’re leaving
tomorrow... We’re all going to miss you.
kangu-di v.i. Lit: ‘belly+stand/be’.
(Not fully attested.) Like, love someone. This is an
alternative to yolh-ni and yolh-di.
► Kah-dje-bruHmu, bah mak ka-kakku-dje-bruHmu
kardu. Buyirrhwalung mah kardu bukah-marnu-
kangu-di. Bukah-marnu-djare-miniyan-kun. She’s
sulking, but maybe she’s not really sulky. And deep
inside she likes him. So that she’ll love him.
Syn: yolh-di; yolh-ni.
kangu-dinjirrmu v.i. Lit: ‘belly+DI+HATE’.
Have negative feelings about someone, not like
someone, be emotionally hostile.
► Bulu kah-nan biyi kirdikird, bulkah-marnu-
kangu-yowyow. Djehneng kah-yin radjdjarr. Mak
bulka-njirrHmi-won, mak ka-kangu-dinjirrmu.
Djalkmi ka-dja-kangu-yowyowmu, kanh biyi
kirdikird bulu kaye-nan wurdurd. [Once a child has
undergone a certain ritual intended to soften their
personality,] the people she sees, she’s kind to them.
Just like floodwater. She doesn’t have negative
feeling about them, she’s not hostile. She just
simply feels good, when she sees people, men,
women or children.
► Kah-yawoh-kangu-dinjirrminji, kanh-kun
narrah-woh-durruninji. Bah kardu marruh kah-
yolh-yinHyinj, kardu kinikun kirdikird-kun kardu
molkkun, kah-woh-kangu-dinjirrminji, wanjh kanh
narrah-durruninji. Then he started to hate you, and
this is why you started arguing. I don’t know what
happened to him, maybe in secret there was another
woman, and he started feeling hostile, and this is
why you kept arguing.
Syn: njirrhmiwon.
kangu-karndi v.i. Lit: ‘belly+?’.
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 6
Have a premonition, a funny feeling, announcing
some negative event, like a fight or a death;
anticipate negative outcomes.
► Buyirrhwalung nahda balah-kakku-kangu-run.
Balah-kangu-karndi ke. Wanjh mah ngorr kah-yin...
Kanh balah-dowhmu, balah-lng-yang-kalabobo-
marrun. Balah-kangu-karndi, balah-kakku-kangu-
wurdah. Kardu balah-kurnh-wudjmu kardu nahda.
Bulah-bengkan korre bulah-nan kardu. Kenbo kanh
balah-lng-run, balah-kangu-karndi. [Dogs howling,
or barking together at night, are said to express their
premonition that something bad is taking place
somewhere.] They feel very bad, inside. They have
a bad feeling, a bad premonition really. And so it
tells us... That’s when they bark, they ?howl
together?. They have a bad premonition, they feel
worried; someone passed away over there maybe.
And they know in advance, they see. Then they
howl, they have a bad premonition.
► Yibung-karn-wali bulah-marnu-nahbu.
Kurrmara-no-kah. Kahnidjah balah-kangu-karndi.
They’re dancing for him now in turn. Around his
[dying] body. They anticipate his death.
kangu-kerlk adj. Lit: ‘belly+soft’.
Be kind, generous, nice, friendly.
► Mak ka-kangu-murduk-kun, mak ngorr ka-kakku-
drahmi. Bah kah-mon. Kah-kangu-kerlkerlk. He’s
not a selfish person. He didn’t really refuse a favor
with no reason. So it’s OK. He’s a good, generous
person.
Syn: kangu-bola. Ant: kangu-murduk (partial).
kangu-kurduhka v.t. Lit: ‘belly+block’.
Cause to feel bad, for instance by being hostile.
► Njing-kah nunh kah-kangu-kurduhka. [When you
argue with your husband all the time,] he makes you
feel no good.
► Nulah-lng-weh-wong nunda murdika. Murdika-
ngan mah kah-kiyan-kun djenj-kah. Bula-lng-kangu-
kurduhkang. You broke the car. My car, that takes
me fishing. They made me feel no good.
kangu-kurduh(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘belly+blocked’.
1) Feel anxious, nervous, feel emotionally scared or
uncomfortable, apprehensive. The trigger can be of
many sorts, such as the illness of a close relative,
some threatening presence. The source of anxiety
may also be material (rather than social), when
flying in a light plane for instance.
► Ngah-lng-kangu-mon-minj kah-marnu-dudjminj
wujbidul-walung. Bah malung wujbidul kaye-ninj,
nunh ngah-marnu-kangu-kurduhminj, ngah-dja-
marnu-kangu-runinj munguyh. I got to feel better
when she came back to me from hospital. But
before, when she was in hospital, then I was
anxious, I was feeling bad and worried all the time.
► Blein-kah ngah-bon ngah-kangu-kurduhmu.
Kanh ngah-lng-dolkan-kuno nunh ngah-lng-kakku-
kangu-kurduhmu. When I take a plane, I feel
nervous. When I take off, then I get really nervous.
2) Have one’s belly blocked, full.
► Mey boyenjboyenj ngah-yidjnjan kangu-ngan-
kah, ngah-kangu-kurduhmu. I’ve got a lot of food in
my belly, my belly is blocked.
kangu-mang v.t. Lit: ‘belly+get’.
Touch, move: cause to feel compassionate, to have
empathy, to share emotional pain. This leads to
sadness, but also to be willing to help. Kangu-mang
described compassion directed at people, but the
feeling may be mediated by something else, music
for instance.
► Loli kardu kah-djare dohkardu mey. Kanh kah-
ruruyan. Wurdurd-wurd kanh djah-lng-kangu-
miyan, kardu dah-marnu-kangu-ruyan. Dah-lng-
ngabbuyan. Wurdahmi-dorrungh. He wants lollies,
or food maybe. That’s why he keeps crying. This
little child will touch you, you’ll be emotionally
moved, you’ll feel sorry for him. You’ll give him
something. Out of feeling sorry for him.
► Balah-wayini kardu... Bulu kah-kakku-kangu-
mang, kanh kaye-doninj-kun, kardu kanidjah
yirrhwalung kah-ni djadj-kah. Wal kanh myusik
bulaye-wonan, bulu kah-kangu-mang, balah-run.
Like they’re singing... They feel touched, by the
person who died, and he may be there in the church.
And the music that they hear, it moves them, they
cry.
kangu-marrka v.i. Lit: ‘belly+shiver’. Feel nervous,
scared, when facing a threatening prospect like
being attacked by enemies, a danger of death.
► Kah-burlhminj kardu bad-durn-walung. Kardu
kahnidja kah-wadda-bun. Kardu bulu kah-
rakalkkiyan-kun. Balah-kangu-marrka. [The enemy]
came out of the cave maybe. He might live there.
Maybe to kill them in revenge. They’re scared.
► Kah-kangu-marrka, men-no kah-yin, kardu
djehneng, madme-djam balah-donj, wah-djam. He
feels nervous, he thinks, that they might have died
of hunger, or thirst.
kangu-mon adj. Lit: ‘belly+good’.
Feel fine, feel good, have no negative feelings. This
may apply to self-oriented feelings: when one does
not feel distressed, or sad etc. (1, 2). Or, kangu-mon
can mean that one has no negative feelings for
others: not be angry, have no animosity etc. (3).
Kangu-mon can sometimes refer to temporary states,
or to a disposition, i.e. a personality feature (be a
nice person, have good character (4)), although
kangu-burrama is normally preferred in such
contexts.
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 7
► (1) Ngah-lng-kangu-mon-minj kah-marnu-
dudjminj wujbidul-walung. Bah malung wujbidul
kaye-ninj, nunh ngah-marnu-kangu-kurduhminj,
ngah-dja-marnu-kangu-runinj munguyh. Bah
nekenda kah-mon, ngah-lng-marnu-kangu-mon. I
got to feel better when she came back to me from
hospital. But before, when she was in hospital, then
I was anxious, I was feeling bad and worried all the
time. But now it’s OK, I feel good about her.
► (2) Barrah-lng-yirru-wudjminj. Barrah-yirru-
donj, nahda nunh, barrah-lng-kangu-mon-minj.
They calmed down. They stopped arguing, and
that’s when, then they came back to better feelings.
► (3) Bukah-dja-marnu-kangu-mon. [Your ex] is
still kind to you, he still gets on with you.
► (4) Kahnunda kardu bulu kah-naHnan kanh
wurdurd. Kah-kangu-wurdahmu, mak ka-bengkan
wurdurd bulu ka-yawo-dung. Kardu kah-kodj-kulu-
mon, kah-kangu-mon. She seems to take good care
of the children, this one. She feels for them, she’s
compassionate, she never scolds the little kids. She’s
a good person, she’s kind.
Syn: kangu-burrama; kangu-yowyow(mu)
(partial). Ant: kangu-weh-no; kangu-weh-mun;
kangu-murduk (partial).
kangu-muk(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘belly+COVERED’.
Have very negative feelings, whether self-oriented
(e.g. feel very sad, for instance when losing
someone close) or targeting someone else, like
feeling resentful to the point of undertaking revenge,
or refusing to sort out a conflict.
► Wurrhwurrungu yongkih nunh kanh danj-yih
balah-yamurruninj, nunh balah-dja-lng-kangu-
mukminj. Danj bulah-bulk-wodnaninj, mak bula-
bulk-yidjnjey. People in the olden days, they fought
with spears, and they would get vengeful then. They
threw spears, they didn’t hold on to their spears.
► Kanh murlah-ngu kaye-donj-kuno, djah-kangu-
mukminj. When your aunt (mother’s sister) died,
you felt terrible.
kangu-murduk adj. Lit: ‘belly+hard/strong’.
1) Be socially confident: typically self-assertive, in
particular in conflicts, but also socially confident
and well-at-ease with other people in general. This
sense has positive connotations.
► R., kah-kangu-murduk. Nunh bale-durrun, o
yale-durrun, nunh bulu kah-yinmiwon, mak bulu ka-
marnu-djong-mun. R., he is self-confident. When he
argues with people, or when we argue together, he
tells people [what he has to say], he’s not afraid of
them.
► Renjdja kanh […] bukah-yelng-nang. Nunda mah
mak wurdurd kah-run nah-no-kun, kah-yininj, kah-
kangu-murduk-kun, kah-yininj. Yow, kah-yininj
ngal-binj-murlah-yu Rosita, nunda bah njel yilah-
ye-yu, mak ka-run, kah-ngerh-murduk, mak nah-no-
kun buka-marnu-runj, kah-yininj Rosita-yih. [About
MT’s 4 y.o. great-granddaughter spending a whole
day away from her mother.] And the ranger […] he
saw this. This little girl didn’t cry for her mother, he
said, she’s strong, he said. Yes, her mother’s sister
Rosita replied, when she’s with us, she doesn’t cry,
she’s strong, she doesn’t cry for her mother, Rosita
said.
Syn: ngerh-murduk (occasional).
2) Have negative feelings, not open to others, not
willing to share. Kangu-murduk can mean be selfish,
cold-hearted, not inclined to share goods with
others. It can also mean be austere, not cheerful, not
inclined to share the company of others. This sense
has negative connotations (especially in the sense
‘selfish’).
► Njing ngalkohbanj mak bad ka-ngabbuy. Kah-
marnu-kangu-murduk-worrinj, kardu kenbo kah-
yinmiyan. You old woman, you didn’t give me
money [when I asked]. You acted selfishly with me,
he might say later.
► Kah-dja-bon yibung-karn, nunh kangu-murduk-
kun, mak ka-yolh-redjiredjing, kahke. She goes
along by herself, she’s austere, not cheerful, she’s
not happy at all.
Syn: murduk (partial); kangu-weh-no (partial);
kangu-weh-mun (partial). Ant: kangu-burrama;
kangu-mon; kangu-bola; kangu-yowyow(mu)
(partial).
3) Be physically strong, resistant.
► Kah-dokkang. Kah-kangu-murduk. Mak buka-
kangu-bakkey. He got up. He’s resistant. He didn’t
succumb [to his wounds].
kangu-nan v.t. Lit: ‘belly+see’.
Have emotional affinities with someone: understand
someone, have empathy for them; get along with
someone, appreciate someone.
► Wurdurd kanh kah-rurun munguyh... Korre mah
bukah-kangu-nan, nah-no-yih. Nah-no mah kah-lng-
dje-bruHmu. Korreh bahdih bukah-kangu-nan. The
child keeps crying... But his mother, she knows how
he feels. And the mother will be sad. She
understands him.
► Biyirrhwalung mak barra-kangu-narrun. Kardu
barrah-ngurrung-durrun. They don’t really get on.
Like they are hostile to each other maybe.
► Bukah-marnu-redjing kardu nunda kahnunda
biyi-yih, barrah-mumu-naHnarrun. Nunda mah
kardu, buyirrhwalung mak burra-kangu-nan. Kardu
kah-kangu-yirru-burlhmu, kah-merey-di. [A photo
of a woman laughing with a man.] The man is
joking with her, they’re flirting, looking at each
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 8
other in the eyes. But this one [the woman], deep
inside she doesn’t like him. Maybe she’s getting
angry, she’s jealous.
kangu-redji v.i. Lit: ‘belly+smile/laugh’.
Be pleased (and hide it).
► Kirdikird ngah-nang kah-dje-bruHminj, bah
kardu mak ka-kakku-dje-bruHmi kardu, bah kardu
buyirrhwalung kardu kah-kangu-redjinginj. I saw
this woman, she looked sad, but maybe she wasn’t
really sad, like maybe she was feeling alright inside.
► Yibung-karn mah kah-bengdanginj, kah-lng-
kangu-redji, buyirrhwalung kah-kangu-redji. But
him, he knows [as opposed to the other ones], and
he’s secretly pleased, deep inside, he’s pleased.
Syn: yolh-redji.
kangu-run v.i. Lit: ‘belly+cry’.
Feel bad, feel sad, suffer emotionally, with respect
to separation from a beloved person.
► Kah-kangu-run, kah-run. Kah-run balah-karde-
madmirrinj. [A child being forcibly taken away
from her two cousins.] She’s very sad, she’s crying.
She’s crying because they’re being separated.
► Kah-wurdurd-ninj mahkih François bukah-dja-
nahnaninj. Kanh bulah-dja-marnu-djare. Olot
bulah-marnu-kangu-run kanh wurdurd. Njel mahkih
wurrhwurrungu yilah-dja-marnu-kangu-run. When
she was little François used to look after her. That’s
when they got to like him so much. All the kids are
very sad to see him go. And us old people too, we’re
very sad to see him go.
kangu-weh-mun v.i. Lit: ‘belly+bad+INCH’.
1) Feel bad, have negative feelings, whatever the
reason. Kangu-weh-mun can refer to self-oriented
negative feelings (e.g. being sad, like in 1) or to
feelings targeting others (being angry, sulky etc.,
like in 2 and 3).
► (1) Kah-kakku-ngurlh-djawarminj wurdurd-no-
kun bukah-lng-marnu-ye-komhminj. Bulkkidj kah-
dja-lng-burrinj bad-yih. Kah-lng-kangu-weh-minj
ke, kah-burrun bulkkidj. She’s in despair that he
took her children away. She’s hitting herself badly
[on the head] with a stone. She’s feeling terrible,
she’s hitting herself violently.
► (2) Kardu kah-yin, mak nol ngah-marnu-
yeHyenjdjungiyan, ngah-njenguyungiyan. Nol
narrah-yenjdjung nadah kirdikird. Kah-kangu-weh-
mun. [A photo with two girls chatting and a boy
lying at a distance.] He may be thinking, I won’t
speak to you, I’ll have a rest. You girls can chat
there. He’s moody.
► (3) Kah-kangu-weh-minj. Kah-kodj-dadjminj
kardu. Nol ngah-ban kardu kah-yin. Balay kah-
bong. He got upset. He got sulky. I’m not staying
with you he says. He went away.
Syn: kangu-wehkurla; kangu-weh-no. Ant:
kangu-mon; kangu-yow(mu).
2) Have a belly-ache, be upset in the stomach.
► Ngah-ngun kanh mey, mak nadah ka-burlhka
kahke. Kangu-ngan-kah kah-ni... [...] Ngah-weh-
mun. Ngah-kangu-weh-mun. I eat food, and it won’t
go down. It stays in my stomach. I feel bad. I’m
upset from the belly.
kangu-weh-no adj. Lit: ‘belly+bad’.
(Rare.) Be a bad person, a mean person.
► Kah-biyi-weh-no-ninj. Kah-kangu-weh-no.
Njerrh-ngurlngurlmiyi bulu kah-kiyan. He’s a bad
person. He’s mean. He takes halfcaste children
away. Ant: kangu-burrama.
kangu-wokarrun v.refl. Lit: ‘belly+talk+REFL’.
Carry on a conflict with someone, feel resentful.
► Kah-dja-kangu-burrama. Mak ka-kakku-kangu-
wokarrun kahke. Kah-biyi-burrama kardu. He’s a
good person. He is not resentful. Like he’s a good
man.
► Bulaye-dung kardu, balah-durrun, kanh-kun kah-
lng-yolh-warndih. Kah-kangu-wokarrun mak njel
ka-marnu-yenjdjungiyan. Like when they scold her,
when they argue, that’s when she gets moody. She’s
upset with us, she won’t talk to us.
kangu-wurdah(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘belly+suffer
emotionally’.
1) Feel very bad emotionally: be sad, desperate.
Usually this is because of one’s affection for
someone else. Often this is because of something
bad happening to the beloved person, so that kangu-
wurdah(mu) describes compassion. Sometimes,
nothing bad happens to the beloved person, but the
emotional pain is caused by absence or separation.
Often, both parameters apply.
► Kardu mak bula-ngabbuyan mak bula-
dudjkeyhwoyan. Kanh ngah-marnu-bengdi
munguyh. Bah ngah-dja-lng-marnu-wurdahmu.
Ngah-marnu-kangu-wurdaHmu... [About her
husband in aged-care in town.] They might not hand
him back to me, they might not send him back.
That’s why I think about him all the time. And I
worry about him. I feel worried about him.
► Barlbbara bulah-bawong. Bulu kah-marnu-run
kardu barlbbara-kun. Kah-kangu-run. Kah-
wurdahminj. Kah-kangu-wurdahminj. [A dog is
howling inside a house.] His masters have left him.
He must be crying for his masters. He’s crying for
them. He misses them. He’s feeling very bad.
Syn: wurdah(mu).
2) In benefactive constructions only: marnu-kangu-
wurdah(mu), be compassionate, in the sense of
being helpful, or have affection for someone. This
does not have to be accompanied by any negative
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 9
emotion, although there is the idea than the person is
sensitive to what happens to someone else.
► Kahnunda kardu bulu kah-naHnan kanh
wurdurd. Kah-kangu-wurdahmu, mak ka-bengkan
wurdurd bulu ka-yaw-dung. She seems to take good
care of the children this one. She feels for them,
she’s compassionate, she never scolds the little kids.
► Mak dja-dung kahke. Djah-marnu-kangu-
yowyowmu. Yow djah-lng-marnu-kangu-wurdahmu
nekenda mak dja-dung. He doesn’t argue with you
anymore. He feels good about you. Yeah, he has
affection for you now, he doesn’t argue with you.
► Bulu kah-ngabbuyan mey, bulu kah-marnu-
kangu-wurdahminj. She gives them food, she’s
compassionate to them.
kangu-wurlh(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘belly+be too hot’.
1) Be angry.
► Ngah-kakku-kangu-wurlhmu. Mak nga-kangu-
yordmiyan, ngah-kangu-wokarruniyan. I’m really
angry. I won’t calm down and let it go, I carry on.
2) (Not fully attested.) Have a burning belly, like
after eating spicy food.
Syn: kangu-dadj(mu); ngarrad(mu);
ngayanganj(mu); cf. yirru and kangu-yirru
compounds.
kangu-yalway(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘belly+refreshed’.
1) Feel better emotionally, i.e. get rid of negative
feelings. The bad feelings in question can be self-
oriented (feeling sad, worried etc.), in which case
kangu-yalway(mu) means ‘feel relieved’. Or the bad
feelings that get resolved can target others (feeling
angry at someone), in which case kangu-yalway(mu)
typically applies to the relief one feels after
undertaking revenge in the course of warfare and
inter-tribal conflicts.
► Mulah-ngan malung bulah-monwong, nunh
ngah-lng-kangu-yalwayminj. When my mother’s
sister initially got cured, I was relieved.
► Nguh-deleng-no-kah bulah-yamung. Kinikinikun
mahkih biyi, balah-lng-kangu-yalwayminj. Bulah-
lng-wudjkang. They speared him in the guts [during
a revenge punishment ceremony called
Makkarrardda]. The other men, they’ll feel
revenged, they no longer feel resentful. They will
bring [the fight] to an end.
2) Feel better physically after a belly-ache.
► Ngah-kangu-ngarrkminj, mey wehkurla-no ngah-
ngunj. Bah kah-mon, ngah-lng-kangu-yalwayminj. I
had a belly-ache, I had eaten some food that was no
good. But it’s fine, my belly got better.
kangu-yerrk(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘belly+slip/be released’.
Feel better emotionally, i.e. get rid of negative
feelings. The feelings in question can be self-
oriented (feeling sad, worried etc.), in which case
kangu-yerrk(mu) means ‘feel relieved’. Or they can
target others (feeling angry at someone), in which
case kangu-yerrk(mu) means ‘forgive’.
► Re-dorrung balah-kurlkkurlminj, bunu burrah-
me. Barrah-kangu-yerrkminj. Nah-no-burrng-kun
bulu-burrng, kakkak-burrng bulnu bulah-marnu-
kangu-yerrkminj. [Children reunite with their family
after a long separation, not knowing if they would
see their family again.] They’re running with a big
smile, they take them in their arms. They are
relieved. About their mother, their father, their
grandmother, they are relieved.
► Barrah-durruninj, mak barra-lng-marnu-kangu-
yerrkminj. Mak buka-marnu-kangu-yerrkmi Maïa-
yih, yibung mah mak buka-marnu-kangu-yerrkmi
François-yih. Bah munguyh barrah-dolku-
ngabburruninj. They kept arguing, they didn’t
reconcile. Maïa didn’t forgive him, and François, he
didn’t forgive her. So they remained on bad terms
for a long time.
► Ngey-karn ngah-kangu-yirru-burlhmu kanh
wurdurd bulaye-bengbun. Kenbo bulnu ngah-
marnu-kangu-yerrkmiyan. I get angry when the kids
make too much noise. Then I forgive them.
► Malung narrah-ngurrung-durrun, kardu dah-
ngurrung-dung mah njing yibung mah kardu djah-
ngurrung-dung, kenbo kanh kah-lng-kangu-
yerrkmu. First you are hostile to each other, maybe
you resent him, and him, he resents you, but then he
forgives you. Kriol: polodjais.
Syn: kangu-yalway(mu) (partial).
kangu-yin v.i. Lit: ‘belly+say/do’.
Used mostly in (often rhetorical) questions, to ask
how one feels. Usually this opens up a description
of emotions. Sometimes, the following description
has to do with how one feels physically.
► Kardu marruh kah-kangu-yin, kardu kah-yirru-
ngalminj. What can she be feeling, it looks like she
is angry.
► Kardu marruh djah-kangu-yin? Djah-lng-mumu-
burndahminj mah kardu ke djah-moyh-yu! What can
you be feeling [on this photo]? Well you’re
frowning, you might be sick actually!
Syn: yolh-yin.
kangu-yirru-bonjhmu v.i. Lit:
‘belly+conflict/anger+finish’.
Calm down, end argument.
► Barrah-yirru-boyenj-minj, bah barrah-yawoyh-
marrinj. Barrah-kangu-yirru-bonjhminj. Barrah-
yirru-wudjminj. They had a big argument, but they
reconciled again. They calmed down. They ended
the argument.
Syn: yirru-ngurd(mu); yirru-don; yirru-
wudj(mu); yirru-mun.
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 10
kangu-yirru-burlh(mu) v.i. Lit:
‘belly+fight/anger+come out’.
Be or become angry.
► Kah-ni, kah-dje-bruHmu, kah-kangu-yirru-
worrun. Kenh, kah-kangu-yirru-burlhmu wanjkih.
She sits quiet, she’ sulking, she is angry. Well, she’s
getting angry it seems.
► Buyirrhwalung mak buka-kangu-nan. Kardu kah-
kangu-yirru-burlhminj, kah-merey-di. Deep inside
she doesn’t like him. Like she’s getting irritated,
she’s jealous.
Syn: kangu-dadj(mu);
kangu-wurlh(mu); kangu-yirru-mun;
kangu-yirru-ngal(mu); kangu-yirru-worrun;
ngarrard(mu); ngayanganj(mu); yamarrk-
barrun; yirru-ngal(mu);
yirru-ngalka; yirru-burlh(mu);
yirru-mun; yirru-won.
kangu-yirru-dadjka v.t. Lit:
‘belly+conflict/anger+cut’.
Prevent someone from fighting, or appease
someone’s anger. ?Typically of man appeasing co-
wives.
► Kardu barrah-durrun kirdikird-djun. Mak kardu
bunu ka-kangu-yirru-dadjka kanh biyi-yih. The co-
wives are arguing maybe. Like the husband doesn’t
calm them down.
Syn: yirru-dadjka.
kangu-yirru-djurrkkan v.t. Lit:
‘belly+conflict/anger+exasperate’.
Stir up anger, cause to become so excited that one is
ready to hit.
► Yawurrinj-wurd wirrimah kirdikird-wurd, kanh
duyu-yih bulu kah-kangu-yirru-djurrkkan. Ngorr
wubulu-bubun. Young men, or young women, the
supernatural powers of taboos stir them up, stir up
their anger. They might beat us then.
kangu-yirru-mun v.i. Lit:
‘belly+conflict/anger+INCH’.
Be or become angry.
► Bulkkidj dah-kakku-kangu-yirru-minj, djah-dje-
bruHminj, djah-mumu-bruHminj. You’re really
angry, you’re putting on a dark face, you’re
frowning.
Syn: kangu-dadj(mu); kangu-wurlh(mu); kangu-
yirru-burlh(mu); kangu-yirru-ngal(mu); kangu-
yirru-worrun; yamarrk-barrun; yirru-
burlh(mu); yirru-mun; yirru-ngalka; yirru-
ngal(mu); yirru-won.
kangu-yirru-nan v.t. Lit: ‘belly+conflict/anger+see’.
Be angry at someone.
► Nunda kirdkird kah-yirru-burlhmu. Nunda mah
biyi nunh, bukah-dja-reworewon, mak buka-kangu-
yirru-nan biyirrhwalung. The woman is irritated. As
for the man, he’s smiling at her, he’s not feeling
angry at her.
kangu-yirru-ngal(mu) v.i. Lit:
‘belly+conflict/anger+appear’.
Be or become angry.
► Djah-lng-marnu-yirru-ngandunginj. Kah-lng-
woh-kangu-yirru-ngalminji. Djah-woh-dunginji,
kardu keninjh bukah-men-nguninj. He started
quarrelling with you, and he became irritated, he
started arguing with you all the time, I don’t know
what happened to him.
Syn: kangu-dadj(mu);
kangu-wurlh(mu); kangu-yirru-burlh(mu);
kangu-yirru-mun; kangu-yirru-worrun;
yamarrk-barrun; yirru-burlh(mu); yirru-ngalka;
yirru-ngal(mu); yirru-mun; yirru-won.
kangu-yirru-wayhka v.t. Lit:
‘belly+conflict/anger+lift up-out/open’.
Stir up someone’s anger, cause someone to want to
fight.
► Buka-lng-kangu-yirru-wayhkang. Bukah-yirru-
wayhkang, kanh nguh-yirru-yih. He stirred up his
anger [lifted/opened the anger of his belly]. He
stirred up his anger [lifted/opened his anger], this
nasty bellicose one.
Syn: yirru-wayhka.
kangu-yirru-worrun v.i. Lit:
‘belly+fight/anger+CSTVZR+REFL’.
Be or become angry.
► Nunh mah djah-komhmiyan, marrmo-kinikun-
kah, nunh mah wudji-lng-marnu-
kangu-yirru-worrun. Mah wudjili-wrabun. If you
leave [a ceremony before it is over], and go to
another place, [the spiritual power] might get angry
at you. And it might put a spell on you.
► Barrah-kangu-yirru-worrun. Barrah-kakku-
yirru-burlhminj. They’re angry. They got really
angry.
Syn: kangu-dadj(mu); kangu-wurlh(mu); kangu-
yirru-mun; kangu-yirru-ngal(mu); kangu-yirru-
worrun; yamarrk-barrun; yirru-ngal(mu); yirru-
ngalka; yirru-burlh(mu); yirru-mun; yirru-won.
kangu-yord(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘belly+body fluid be
released’.
1) Feel better emotionally, i.e. get rid of negative
feelings. Usually, the feelings in question target
another person: anger, hatred etc. Sometimes,
kangu-yord(mu) applies to self-oriented feelings,
meaning ‘be relieved’.
► Munguyh balah-dja-ngurrung-durrun, balah-
durrun kanihdja wadda-bulng-kah. Yow, mak bala-
bangmu-kangu-yordmu. Mak bala-langu-marrun
kahke. [About on-going feuds taking place in
another community.] They hold on to their
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 11
resentment, they’re fighting, over there in their
community. Yeah, they don’t let it go yet. They
can’t settle the matter diplomatically [hold hands].
► Ngah-djare duway-ngan ngah-dudjmiyan, kunga-
kangu-yordmu kah-yin. I want to go back to my
husband, so that I’ll feel better she says.
Syn: kangu-yalway(mu); kangu-yerrk(mu).
2) Feel better physically, for instance be relieved
from hunger after eating, or feel relieved after a
belly-ache.
► Ngah-lng-kakku-djare-donj. Ngah-djare manjh
ngah-kanj-nguyan, kunga-kangu-yordmu. I got
hungry. I’d like to eat meat, so that I’ll feel better.
► [Djah]-wurr-berderdeminj. […] Djah-kangu-
yordminj, djah-lng-kangu-mon bonj. You had a
belly-ache. [...] Your belly got relieved, your belly is
now fine, it’s over.
Syn: kangu-yalway(mu).
kangu-yowhmu Variant: kangu-yuwhmu. v.t. Lit:
‘belly+make flow’.
Cause to feel or be good. Kangu-yowhmu was found
only in contexts relating to the Christian religion.
► Kahnidja bulu-ngokorrng kardu bukah-marnu-
yenjdju, bukah-djawanj, bulu! Mak ngah-yawh-
mayahmiyan kah-kangu-yowhmu. Radjdjarr ngah-
lng-ningiyan, bukah-marnu-yin (SC). [A man turns
to God to help him overcome alcoholism.] There
he’s talking to God, he asks to him, Father! I won’t
become confused and drink anymore, you make me
a good person [make my belly flow]. I’ll be good
like floodwater he says.
kangu-yowyow(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘belly+flow’. Feel good,
experience positive feelings. Kangu-yowyow(mu) is
used when someone is pleased because of some
positive, but relatively minor, daily event (1, 2).
Benefactive constructions can mean either ‘be
pleased about someone’ (self-oriented, 3) or ‘be
well-disposed towards someone’ (i.e. emotions
targeting others, 4). Kangu-yowyow(mu) can also
refer to a more durable state, talking about people of
good temperament, who are usually happy (5). In
this dispositional sense, kangu-yowyow(mu) can also
refer to good feelings for others, and thus mean
kind, generous (6).
► (1) Ngarrah-kakku-yolh-mon-minj, ngarrah-
kangu-yowyowminj. Marrmo-njelng-kah yalah-
dudjminj. We felt really good, we were pleased. We
were back home.
► (2) Delegram bukah-marnu-burlhmiyan, mulah-
no-kun kah-lng-kangu-yowyowmiyan. She got a
phone call, she was really pleased [to hear from] her
mother’s sister.
► (3) Njel kah-marnu-dorrung-murduk-bong. Mak
ka-lng-moyh-yongi, kahke. Njel ka-yang-woninj....
Yalah-lng-dudjminji yilah-lng-marnu-kangu-
yowyowminj. Yolh-mon-kih yalah-dudjminj, mak
yila-marnu-kangu-darrmi, kahke. He got stronger
[for us]. He’s no longer sick, it’s over. He talked to
us... When we came back [from visiting him in
hospital], we were very pleased about him. We
came back very happy, we don’t worry about him
anymore.
► (4) Mak dja-dung kahke. Djah-marnu-kangu-
yowyowmu. Yow djah-lng-marnu-kangu-wurdahmu
nekenda mak dja-dung. He doesn’t argue with you
anymore. He feels good about you. Yeah, he likes
you now [he feels for you], he doesn’t argue with
you.
► (5) Kah-dja-lng-kangu-burrama. Kah-kangu-
yowyowmu. Mak ka-yolh-borledmu, mak ka-run mak
nah-no bulu-no bunu ka-kelkwon. [Once a child has
undergone a certain ritual] she’ll be good person
then. She’s happy and nice. She doesn’t have
tantrums, she doesn’t cry, she doesn’t bother her
parents.
► (6) Mak kirdikird ka-kangu-yowyowmu. Kardu
kah-mo-murduk. This person is not kind. Like she’s
tough and selfish.
kelehmu v.t.
Scare someone, frighten someone. The source of the
fear can be a person, an animal, a natural force like
thunder. The action does not have to be intentional,
but the source of the fear is usually aggressive,
nasty.
► Mak keninjh buka-kelehmiyan. Kah-worhdi. Kah-
djong-bruk mak ka-djong-mun. He isn’t scared of
anyone. He stands up. He’s brave, he doesn’t get
scared.
► [Nganabbarru] njel kah-kelehmu. The buffalo
gives us a fright.
► Bukah-ye-dudjminj wadda-kah. Kanh Ngalyurr-
yih bunu kah-kelehminj. It brought them back home
[made them come home]. Ngalyurr, the lightening
spirit, it frightened them two.
Syn: wurrhka (partial).
kodj-burrama adj. Lit: ‘crown of head/head+good’.
Be good with respect to functions having to do with
the head. More commonly, be wise, smart, but also
be morally good, socially accommodating.
► Balang kahnunda kah-kodj-mayahmayah, bah
kah-lng-kodj-burrama-minj. Balang [my grandson],
he used to be boisterous, but he’s become wise.
Syn: kangu-burrama (partial).
kodj-dadj(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘crown of head/head+end’.
Be upset and interrupt social interactions as a
consequence, often by leaving others in order to be
alone. Usually, kodj-dadj(mu) targets someone,
meaning ‘being upset with someone’, but it was
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 12
occasionally used with the self-oriented sense ‘be
sad’.
► Kah-kodj-dadjminj kah-bong. Kah-dokkang, kah-
kodj-dadjminj. She got upset, she left. She got up
[and left], she’d got upset and didn’t want to stay.
► Yalah-kodj-dadjminj, yalah-wurdahminj, kanh
awudj-ngong olot yilah-dja-lng-bawong. [When our
white boss died in a car accident] we got upset and
left, we left the houses and all.
kodj-dukkan v.t. Lit: ‘crown of head/head+tie up’.
(Not fully attested.) Be upset, be very resentful
against someone.
► Kah-kakku-kangu-dadjminj munguyh, bulu kah-
lng-kodj-dukkang wulungmunguyh, mak nidjarra
ka-ningiyan kah-boniyan kurnh-kinikun-kah. [After
years of conflict with them] he got fed up and
became very angry at them. He’ll remain upset with
them forever.
kodj-kerlk adj. Lit: ‘crown of head/head+soft’.
Be open, easy-going, so that it will be easy for one
to find a spouse; or, be open to sexually oriented
relationships.
► Kah-kodj-murduk, mak ka-kodj-kerlk. Kardu
marruh-kuno biyi kah-ngalkiyan... She’s closed,
she’s not open. When will she ever find a man...
► Wirrimah biyi balah-kodj-kerlk, kirdikird balah-
djare. Wirrimah-kih biyi kodj-murduk, mak kirdikird
bula-marnu-djare. Some men can be sexually open,
they like women. Or else some other men are not
interested in sexual affairs, they don’t like women.
Ant: kodj-murduk.
kodj-mon v.t. Lit: ‘crown of head/head+good’.
1) Be in a good mood.
► Kah-marnu-kodj-dadjminj. Bah ngey, ngah-mon,
ngah-kodj-mon. He got upset and sulky with me.
But me, I’m OK, I’m not angry at him.
Syn: kangu-burrama. Ant: kangu-weh-no; kangu-
weh-mun.
2) Be smart, intelligent, have intellectual capacities.
► Kah-mon nunh kodj-no mak ka-mayahmu, kah-
kodj-mon. Bah, bard-karlang-no, dolku-no, rakmo-
no, bok-no, mak... mak ka-rurdukmu. He’s alright, in
his head, he’s not senile, he’s can still think right.
But, his knees, his back, his hips, his lower back
can’t... he can’t move.
3) Be open to sexually oriented relationships.
► Bukah-kodj-djawan kanh kirdikird kanh biyi-yih,
bukah-dja-kodj-djawan, barna djah-kodj-mon? The
man, he makes sexual offers to the woman, he asks
her hey are you keen to have sex with me?
Syn: kodj-kerlk. Ant: kodj-murduk.
kodj-murduk adj. Lit: ‘crown of
head/head+hard/strong’.
1) Be emotionally closed. This can mean be selfish,
or more specifically not be open to finding a spouse
or to meeting sexual partners.
► Mey bulu dah-ngabbuyan, mak dja-kodj-murduk-
buyan. You’ll give them food, you won’t be selfish.
► Kah-kodj-murduk, mak ka-kodj-kerlk. Kardu
marruh-kuno biyi kah-ngalkiyan... She’s closed,
she’s not open. When will she ever find a husband...
Syn: kodj-yirru (partial). Ant: kodj-kerlk
(partial).
2) Be smart, determined.
► Kah-dorrung-kenjhbi kanh wurdurd-wurd, kah-
kodj-murduk. Kah-dudjmiyan. She’s like
whatyucallit this child [who is smart enough to
escape a tracker], she’s smart and determined. She’ll
get back home [in spite of the obstacles].
kodj-njirrk(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘crown of
head/head+upset/resentful/confused’.
Be upset, resentful.
► Wulkun-no kardu barrah-yongiyan. Ngey mak
nga-yawoh-marnu-djare, kah-yininj. Kah-kodj-
njirrkmu. She and her brother slept together. I don’t
want her [as a wife] anymore, he thought. He’s
upset, he holds it against her.
Syn: njirrk(mu) (partial).
kodj-weh adj. Lit: ‘crown of head/head+bad’.
Have bad feelings, feel no good. This can be self-
oriented, in which case it means ‘sad’. Or it can
describe feelings targeting others, in which case it
refers to a disposition, a personality feature: be
mean, be a bad person.
► Kardu kah-kodj-weh-mun, wanjh kah-dje-bruh.
Maybe he’s sad, this is why he’s putting on a sad
face.
► Kanh biyi kah-lng-kodj-weh-mun. Yibung bukah-
ngerh-darrah-mang. The man is sad. She broke his
heart.
► Njerrh-ngurlngurlmiyi bulu kah-kiyan. Kah-
barbarng-ninj. Kah-kodj-weh-ninj. He would take
the halfcaste children away. He was really nasty. He
was mean.
kodj-wuluyh-mu(n?) v.i. Lit: ‘crown of
head/head+?ACHE’.
(Not fully attested.) To miss people or home.
► Kurnh-balaybbalay-walung kah-boninj, kah-
kodj-wuluyhminj, kah-dudjmiyan nah-no-kah bulu-
no-kah. [The young woman] came from far away,
she’s homesick, she’ll go back to her mother and
father.
► Kah-kodj-wuluyhminj, nah-no-kun bulu-no-kun,
kah-dudjmiyan, kurnh-balay-walung kah-boninj.
She misses her mother and father, she’ll go back, in
her country far away.
kodj-yirru adj. Lit: ‘crown of
head/head+conflict//anger’.
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 13
Be angry, aggressive, seek argument, in the context
of conjugal relationships. This may have to do with
partners being aggressive with each other, or with a
third person being unhappy about a particular union.
► Nunh mak biyi kah-ngalkiyan nunh kah-kodj-
murduk. Kah-kodj-yirru. She won’t find a husband,
she’s not open. She’s hostile when it comes to men.
► Nah-ngan bulu-ngan mak burra-munku-yung,
barrah-kodj-yirru. My mother and father won’t send
me [to live with a husband], they’re hostile to my
getting married.
Syn: kodj-murduk (partial). Ant: kodj-kerlk
(partial).
koh-wurrh(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘eyes/gaze+surprised,
frightened’.
Be surprised by the sight of something. Koh-
wurrh(mu) can be used to refer to fright (minor), or
simply to surprising information.
► Koh-wurrhmu djaye-yin, nunh, djah-kurnh-nan,
dah-nan kardu keninjh kardu kah-rurdukmu kardu
malaworr-no kardu keninjh, kardu yarraman. Djah-
koh-wurrhkarrun. You say koh-wurrhmu, this is
when you look around, you see something moving,
maybe leaves or something, maybe a horse. You get
a fright.
► Mak bulnu yila-ye-wokan, biyi, kirdikird, kenbo
bulnu-walung-kun balah-koh-wurrhmu bulah-nan
kah-wurdurd kanh kaye-yarrardmu, wurr-no-kah.
[When a woman gets pregnant,] we don’t tell
people, they find out themselves when they see that
it’s a child that is growing, in her belly.
Syn: wurrh(mu) (partial).
koh-yedjmun v.i. Lit: ‘eyes/gaze+ticklish’.
Avoid looking at others when intimidated,
embarrassed or ashamed; feel ashamed or
embarrassed because someone is looking at you.
► Kah-medmo-yermu, wirrimah kah-koh-yedjmun.
Laik mak bulu ka-niyan. He’s ‘ashamed from the
side of the face’, or he’s got ‘ticklish eyes’. Like he
won’t look at them.
Syn: koh-yer(mu); medmo-yer(mu).
koh-yer(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘eyes/gaze+avoid interactions for
fear of others’.
Avoid looking at others when intimidated,
embarrassed or ashamed; feel ashamed or
embarrassed because someone is looking at you.
► Kardu korreh-kun bukah-yolh-weh-woninj
wolmud-kahyih, wanjh bukah-marnu-koh-yermu
wolmud-yih, mak buka-nan nahda wulkun-no-kah.
He might have made her feel uncomfortable already,
the girl, and this is why she’s embarrassed to look at
him, she doesn’t look at her brother there.
► Bunu kah-nang burrah-naHnan, bunu kah-lng-
marnu-koh-yermu. She saw that they’re watching
her, she’s embarrassed because they’re looking at
her.
Syn: medmo-yer(mu); koh-yedjmun.
kom-nunj-wukmurrun v.refl. Lit: ‘neck+swallow
spit’.
1) Feel sexually attracted.
► Bukah-lng-molk-naHnan. Kardu bukah-marnu-
kom-nunj-wukmurrun. She watches him in secret.
Maybe she’s attracted, she would like to have sex
with him.
2) Swallow one’s spit. This was given as a
translation, but there is no example of actual use.
kormu Variant: kromu. v.i.
1) Be sulky.
► Keninjh-kun djah-kormu-ngan mak ka-marne-
yenjdjungi korreh djah-yolh-naninj? (DD) Why are
you sulky to me? I didn’t talk about you, I saw how
you felt.
2) Ache.
► Djah-kangu-kromu. [Because you ate something
bad] you have a belly-ache.
kuhmu v.t.
Be surprised when seeing something unknown or
unexpected, and look intensely at this thing for that
reason, stare at it in surprise and/or awe.
► Mak da-marrmo-bengkan, bah kahnidja djah-
boniyan, kardu dah-lng-marrmo-kuhmiyan. You
don’t know this country, but you go there, and
you’ll stare at this country in awe.
► Mak dja-dorrung-bengkey kanh Balang
derrhyah-no kah-burlhminj [...]. Kenbo djah-
dorrung-kuhminj njing mah dah-dorrung-kuhminj.
You didn’t know that Balang had arrived the day
before [...]. So he was surprised and stared at you,
and you, you were surprised and stared at him too.
M – m
marrbun v.t.
Feel sorry for someone, feel compassionate for
someone.
► Nunda bala kardak-ngu bunu kah-yawoyh-
kanjbuy-ngabbuyan weh-no bunu ngah-marrbun
(SC). This one your uncle poor fellow, she gave
those two some meat, poor things, I care for these
two.
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 14
marrburrun v.i. Lit: ‘feel compassionate+REFL’.
Feel sad.
► Biyi-ngan nahda kah-ni, balaybbalay. Ngah-
marnu-kangu-wurdahmu, kenbo mah ngah-lng-
marrburrun, mak nunh nga-yolh-mon kahke. My
husband is over there, far away. I feel bad without
him, and then I’m sad, I don’t feel good at all then.
► Wurdurd-wurd kanh kah-marrburrun, dah-milh-
djonghmu dohkardu dah-ngalbak-djonghmu, wuku
kuku-yolh-mon-mun. The little girl is sad, you give
her a kiss on her forehead, or on her chin, so that she
feels better.
marrun v.i. Lit: ‘get+RECIP’.
1) Meet up, get together.
► Biyi kirdkird balah-marrun bulah-modjdjanj-
wan. Men and women get together and sing.
2) Marry, have a conjugal/sexual relationship with.
► Kirdikird-no kardu kah-bon, biyi kinikun bukah-
mang, barrah-marrun. Like the wife goes away, she
takes another man, they marry.
3) Reconcile.
► Barrah-yirru-boyenj-minj, bah barrah-yawoyh-
marrinj. Barrah-kangu-yirru-bonjhminj. Barrah-
yirru-wudjminj. They had a big argument, but they
reconciled again. They calmed down. They ended
the argument.
medmo-dabka v.t. Lit: ‘side of face+block access to’.
Prevent someone from seeing or being seen, by
standing in front of them, often in order to protect
them from embarrassment.
► Bukah-ney nahda, bah njing-yih dah-medmo-
dabkang. Kah-lng-medmo-yermu nuhka, yibung-
karn kah-medmo-boledminj. This one would see her,
but you, you prevent her from being seen. And she’s
embarrassed by his look there, she is turning her
head the other way.
► Djah-medmo-dabkarrinj. Kardu djah-yermu
dohkardu dah-rurun. You’re hiding your face [with
your hand on your temple]. Maybe you’re ashamed,
or maybe you’re crying.
Syn: koh-dabka (partial).
medmo-nan Variant: medmu-nan. v.t. Lit: ‘side of
face+see’.
Cause someone to be embarrassed or ashamed, by
looking at them.
► Durn-kah ngah-dja-ni. Wubulu-buh-medmo-
naHnan, mak nga-djare. Ngah-men-yedjmun bulah-
nahniyan. I’ll stay in the house. I don’t want people
to see me. That they see me makes me feel
uncomfortable.
medmo-yer(mu) Variant: medmu-yer(mu). v.i. Lit:
‘side of face+avoid interactions for fear of others’.
Avoid being seen by other people because of feeling
embarrassed or ashamed by them watching, or avoid
looking at them because of feeling shy, ashamed or
embarrassed.
► Mak bala-lng-burlhmu, balah-durn-kurnh-daddi
munguyh. [...] Balah-medmo-yermu. They won’t
come out, they stay inside their house. [...] They’re
ashamed and don’t want to be seen.
► Mak bulu ka-niyan. O mak ngorr ka-niyan.
Ngorr kah-marnu-medmo-yermu. He won’t look at
people. Or he won’t look at us. He’s shy, ashamed
of looking at us.
Syn: koh-yer(mu); koh-yedjmun.
men-ngun v.t. Lit: ‘ideas+eat’.
Men-ngun is used to ask pseudo-questions, when
one doesn’t understand why someone is acting the
way they do. Usually there is a negative
connotation. Men-ngun is an alternative to the more
frequent yolh-ngun.
► Djah-lng-marnu-yirru-ngandunginj, kah-lng-
woh-kangu-yirru-ngalminji, djah-woh-dunginji
kardu keninjh bukah-men-nguninj. He started
quarrelling with you, and he became irritated, he
started arguing with you all the time, I don’t know
what happened to him.
Syn: yolh-ngun (partial).
men-yer(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘ideas+avoid interactions for fear
of others’.
Feel ashamed, embarrassed, and therefore avoid
interactions with others.
► Dah-yawoyh-marnu-yenjdjungi kardu. Bah djah-
lng-djud-ngalHminj, djah-lng-komhkomhminj, djah-
dje-bruHminj. Yow, kardu bah dja-men-yerminj.
[After a small altercation.] You tried to say
something to her maybe. But you left without
looking at her, you left angry, you were upset. Yeah,
and you were embarrassed as well.
► Mumu-no-burrng, bunu kah-mumu-nang.
Burrah-naHnan du strong. Kenbo kah-lng-men-
yerminj. She saw their eyes. They look at her too
intensely. Then she’ll felt embarrassed.
Syn: yer(mu).
merey incorp.adv.
Out of jealousy, out of a desire of control. This
typically applies to love relationships (particularly
between co-wives). It does not apply naturally to
envy related to someone else’s possessions or
qualities.
► Kardu duway-burrng-kun barrah-burrun merey.
[These two co-wives] are probably fighting out of
jealousy over their husband.
► Yirru-boyenj barrah-durrun merey. Kirdikird-yih
bukah-dung nuhkah yawurrinj-kahyih. They’re
having a big argument over jealousy issues. The
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 15
woman has an argument with the young man.
merey-di v.i. Lit: ‘jealously+stand/be’.
Be jealous, and over controlling as a result. This is
most often used in the context of
love/sexual/conjugal relationships.
► Njing-yih kardu djah-merey-di buyirrhwalungh.
It’s you who feel jealous inside [but without
showing it].
► Kardu kah-kangu-yirru-burlhmu, kah-merey-di.
Maybe she’s getting angry, she’s jealous.
► Bah mak ka-boniyan. Kanh mah kirdikird
kinikun-yih kah-merey-di, bukah-koh-nan kahnunh.
But he won’t go [visit his lover in the women’s
camp]. The other wife is jealous. She keeps an eye
on him.
merey-nan v.t. Lit: ‘jealously+see’.
Be jealous of someone (the object is the competitor).
This is most often used in the context of
love/sexual/conjugal relationships.
► Bukah-yolh-nang, kardu kah-merey-nan, kah-
yininj. I got how she was feeling, she was probably
jealous of me, she thought.
► Barrah-merey-narrinj kanh yawurrinj-wurd-kun.
They are jealous of each other over this young man.
merey-nguddu v.t. Lit: ‘jealously+HEART’.
Be a jealous person, prone to experience jealousy
and to be controlling with people.
► Mah bukah-djonghminj kahnunh merey-nguddu.
Ah, the jealous one [among the wives] is giving him
a kiss.
mo-barrun v.refl. Lit: ‘bones+bite-REFL’.
1) Grind teeth.
► Ngaye-njenguyu nunh ngah-mo-barrun. When I
sleep, I grind my teeth.
2) Feel very angry, furious, vengeful, to the point
that one cannot appease their anger. Mo-bang ‘bite
bones’ is associated with cursing.
► Kah-mo-barrun bulkkidj, mak buka-marnu-
kangu-yordmu. Bukah-kakku-kangu-mo-barrun mak
buka-marnu-kangu-yalwaymu. He’s furious, he
won’t let it go. He’s furious against him, he won’t
forgive him.
Syn: kangu-darridj(mu).
mo-murduk adj. Lit: ‘bones+hard/strong’.
1) Be selfish, not generous, not willing to share and
give.
► Mak biyi kirdikird mey njel ka-ngabbun, kah-yi-
dih. Kah-mo-murduk. A man or a woman who
doesn’t share food, they’re selfish. They’re ‘hard-
boned’, selfish.
Syn: yi-dih.
2) Be physically strong.
► Biyi-ngu kah-mo-murduk. Kah-dorrung-
boyenjboyenj mahkih. Kah-kornam-kardabun. Your
husband is strong. He’s massive too. He’s tall.
Syn: dorrung-murduk.
mo-wudj(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘bones+end’.
Lack energy, motivation, so that one sits around, not
willing to do anything or to interact with others.
► Ngah-dja-ni ngey-walung-kun, ngah-ni ngah-
yolh-marnburrun, bah yolh-mon-kih ngah-dja-ni.
Bah ngah-mo-wudj mak nga-worhbon. Mak mah
bulu nga-marnu-yenjdjung. I stay by myself, I sit
around, I’m resting, but I’m alright there. But I have
no energy, I don’t walk around. I don’t talk to
people.
mud-bruk Variant: mud-burk. adj. Lit: ‘body
hair+dry’.
Of a brave, courageous person, who is not afraid in
potentially scary situations.
► Bulu kah-djawadjawan yang djeneng bulah-
kiyan-kun, barlbbara, bah mak bulu ka-kakku-
djawadjawan. Bah kah-bengkan, kah-djong-mun.
Mak ka-mud-bruk kahke. He was going to ask them
to go along [to the bush], to accompany them, but he
didn’t ask eventually. Because he knows that he’s
scared. He’s not brave.
► Kah-dja-djong-mun mak ka-mud-bruk kahke. He
is scared, he’s not brave [dry hair].
Syn: djong-bruk.
mud-kele-mun v.i. Lit: ‘body hair+FEAR+INCH’.
Feel scared, apprehensive, typically in situations
where one would have gooseflesh. Mud-kele-mun
does not mean having gooseflesh for other reasons
than fear. Mud-kele-mun is used when there is no
immediate threat, for instance when the atmosphere
is scary.
► Mukmuk wirrimahkih korrdjdjok nunh kanunh
muna-no djeye-boniyan kanh djirrah-marnu-
yenjdjungiyan, mud wudji-yelng-mud-dokkan kudji-
mud-kelekele-mun (DD). That mukmuk owl or the
korrdjdjok night owl, if we are walking around at
night and it calls out to the two of us, your hair
might stand on end, or your hair might bristle in
fear.
► Djah-mud-kelekele-miniyan muna-no kanh djaye-
yongiyan. You’ll feel funny, scared, at night when
you lie down [awake in the middle of the night].
mud-nahbu v.t. Lit: ‘body hair+step on’. Make
someone’s hair stand on end because of feeling
scared or uneasy. Mud-nahbu was used when the
source of the feeling was a human or another
animate, not things.
► Rolu bidjalng balah-dohmu, wirrimah karndukun
kah-dohmu, buya bulah-nan, bulnu bulah-mud-
nahbu (DD). Tame dogs howl, and dingoes howl,
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 16
they can see travelling spirits, they make their hair
stand on end.
► Kah-mud-nahbu. Kardu
kah-bon nahdaberda, kanunh ngah-mud-yedjmun.
He’s making my hair stand up, he makes me feel
uncomfortable. If he comes this way, it makes me
feel uneasy.
mumu-yer(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘eyes+avoid interactions for
fear of others’.
Avoid eye contact with potential lover, due to
shyness.
► Bala balah-djorlminj. Kah-worhdi, mah! Bukah-
nang kanh kirdikird yawk-no-no. Bukah-marnu-
mumu-yerminj. Ah, they’re going past him. He’s
standing, ah well! He sees his young girl [the one he
is interested in]. She avoids his gaze.
N – n
ngarrard(mu) v.i.
Get angry. Kriol: gidwail.
► Biyi-no kah-ngarrardminj du mah yibung.
Kah-yirru-burlhminj. The man is getting angry
as well. He’s getting angry [his anger comes
out]. Syn: cf. yirru and kangu-yirru sets; kangu-
dadj(mu); kangu-wurlh(mu); ngayanganj(mu);
yamarrk-barrun; yirru-burlh(mu).
ngayanganj(mu) v.i.
Get angry. Kriol: gidwail.
► Duway-no mah yibung-karn kah-dja-kakku-
ngayanganjmu. And her husband, he is very
angry too. Syn: cf. yirru and kangu-yirru sets; kangu-
dadj(mu); kangu-wurlh(mu); ngarrard(mu);
yamarrk-barrun; yirru-burlh(mu).
ngerh-djaw(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘heart/breath+?worry’.
Feel bad about someone because of their absence.
This applies to grief, or when someone misses
someone else.
► Bumararra-kun Bordeyhrdeyh-kun, wadda ngah-
marnu-ngerh-djawminj... Wadda-kah kanh
Bordeyhrdeyh. Bah nekenda kah-mon. Mak nga-lng-
ngerh-djawmu. Ngah-yolh-mon. [About a place that
the speaker had avoided for years because it was the
scene of a tragic death.] Some time ago, with
Bodeyrhdeyrh, this place, I felt sad about him [the
deceased person]. But now it’s OK. I’m no longer in
grief. I feel fine.
► Kardu munguyh dah-dja-marnu-malk-naHnan til
kah-dudjmu. [...] Ngey ngah-marnu-ngerh-djawmu
djah-yin. Dah-marnu-ngerh-djawmu. [Talking about
the interlocutor being away from her husband.] Like
you’re going to keep thinking about him until he
returns. [...] I miss him you say. You miss him.
Syn: ngurlk-djawar(mu).
ngerh-dorlhdorlh(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘heart/breath+heart
beats’.
(Not fully attested.) Feel bad, worry; ?stress.
Especially with respect to a beloved person
(spouse).
► Ngey mah nunh kanh duway-ngan kaye-bon
nahda, kah-ban mak ka-yang-won, ngah-lng-
marnu-kakku-kangu-darrmu, ngah-marnu-ngerh-
dorlhdorlhmu. When my husband goes away, when
he leaves me without telling where he goes, then I
worry about him, I get stressed out about him.
Syn: ngerh-dowdow(mu).
ngerh-dowdow(mu) Variant: ngerh-rdowrdow(mu).
v.i. Lit: ‘heart/breath+heart beats’.
(Not fully attested.) Feel bad, worry; ?stress.
Especially with respect to a beloved person
(spouse).
► Kardu na-Salomon kanunh, kardu bukah-marnu-
ngerh-dowdowminj. Marruh-kuno kah-dudjmiyan
kardu kah-yininj, men-no. Like for [her husband]
Salomon, she stressed out about him. When will he
get back home, she was thinking in her mind.
Syn: ngerh-dorlhdorlh(mu).
ngerh-murduk adj. Lit: ‘heart/breath+hard/strong’.
(Not fully attested.) Be emotionally strong, stable.
► Nunda bah njel yilah-ye-yu mak ka-run, kah-
ngerh-murduk, mak nah-no-kun buka-marnu-runj,
kah-yininj Rosita-yih. [This little girl], when she’s
with us, she doesn’t cry, she’s strong, she doesn’t
cry for her mother, Rosita said.
Syn: kangu-murduk (partial).
ngerh-waddi v.i. Lit: ‘heart/breath+be high up’.
(Not fully attested.) Feel strong affection.
► Bulah-dja-marnu-ngerh-waddi kanh ngong tu!
And this mob, they really like him too!
Syn: djare (partial).
ngerh-weh(-mun) adj. Lit: ‘heart/breath+bad’.
(Not fully attested.) Feel bad.
► Nah-no-kun bulu-no-kun, bunu kah-marnu-
ngerh-weh-minj. She’s feeling bad about her mother
and father [she misses them].
Syn: kangu-weh-mun; yolh-weh.
ngurlk-di v.i. Lit: ‘‘HEART’+stand/be’.
Have/develop strong affection for someone.
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 17
► Kanunh wurdurd-ngong bulah-marnu-ngurlk-
danginj. The children had become strongly attached
to him.
Syn: djare (partial).
ngurlk-djawar(mu) Variant: ngurlk-djawra(mu).
v.i. Lit: ‘HEART+?WORRY’.
Miss, feel bad because a beloved
ùperson is absent.
► Wurdurd bulah-marnu-yaw-ye-komhminj. Kah-
kakku-ngurlk-djawraminj wurdurd-no-kun. They
took the poor little children away from her. She’s
feeling terrible about her children.
Syn: ngerh-djaw(mu).
ngurlk-kardubun adj. Lit: ‘HEART+?SETTLE
DOWN’.
(Not fully attested.) Develop familiarity and
affection.
► Kardu kah-kangu-mon bah, kah-djerrngu-no
kardu. Kenbo kardu kah-ngulh-kardubun, njel kah-
kulkkiyan. Maybe he’s nice, but he’s only new here.
Later when he develops some familiarity, he might
come and visit us.
ngurlk-karlh(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘HEART+climb’.
(Not fully attested.) Feel strong affection.
► François, wurdurd balah-karra-marnu-run,
bulah-marnu-ngurlh-karlHminj. François [who is
leaving], all the children cry for him, they love him
very much.
Syn: djare (partial).
ngurlk-maddi v.i. Lit: ‘HEART+stay in one place’.
(Not fully attested.) Develop conjugal relationship.
► Kah-boninj kanh biyi kah-njenguyurruninj, kanh
kirdikird-wurd-kah. Bunu burrah-djarrk-ye-yo.
Kanh bukah-lng-marnu-ngurlk-maddinj. The man
went and slept there, with the young woman. They
slept together. That’s how they’d get into a
relationship.
ngurlk-marrun v.i. Lit: ‘HEART+get+RECIP’.
(Not fully attested.) Fall in love with each other.
► Bukah-bengkan kanh yawk-no kirdkird. Mmm,
barrah-ngurlk-marrinj. She knows him, the young
girl, the woman. Mmm, they fell in love (they are in
love).
ngurlk-ye-yirrkki-mang v.i. Lit:
‘HEART+COM+YIRRKKI+get’ (possibly ‘be
envious).
(Not fully attested.) Be in love with someone, want
someone very much.
► Bad kah-me bukah-duyhminj dolku-no-kah.
Kardu bukah-ngurlk-ye-yirrkki-me. He took a stone
and threw it at her in her back [out of frustration
because she keeps rejecting him]. He wants her
badly.
ngurrung-dung v.t. Lit: ‘NGURRUNG-scold’.
Have negative feelings for someone: hate, be hostile
towards, resent someone.
► Ngal-Deborah bukah-dja-ngurrung-dung bulu-
no. Deborah does resent her father.
► Mak nidjarra ka-ningiyan kah-boniyan kurnh-
kinikun-kah, kah-ningiyan. Biyi-burrama-kah, mak
bula-dungiyan bula-ngurrung-dungiyan. He won’t
stay here [where people have been mean to him],
he’ll go elsewhere, to live. Where there are good
people, who don’t have arguments with him or
hostile feelings for him.
► Kardu bulah-ngurrung-dung. Maybe they don’t
like me.
► Mak dah-djirdmiyan, widjilu-ngurrung-dung
(DD). Don’t steal, or people might hate you.
njerrh-ye-merey-di v.t. Lit:
‘(dead)body+COM+jealously+stand/be’. Be jealous
of someone, be obsessed with someone, in the
context of sexually oriented love.
► Bukah-njerrh-ye-merey-di nuhka kanh
yawurrinj-wurd-kah. She’s jealous of the other man
[about a young girl].
► Kardu kah-njerrh-ye-merey-di. Maybe he’s really
jealous of her [and cannot take his eyes off her].
njirrhmiwon v.t. Lit:
‘HATRED+NMNLZR+CSTVZR’.
Have negative feelings for someone, animosity: not
like, hate, resent, be hostile...
► Bulu kah-nan biyi kirdikird bulkah-marnu-
kangu-yowyow. Djehneng kah-yin radjdjarr. Mak
bulka-njirrHmiwon, mak ka-kangu-dinjirrmu. She
sees people, she’s kind to them. Just like floodwater.
She has no animosity, she doesn’t have bad feelings.
► Bah kardu keninjh-kun barrah-dolku-
ngabburrun, kardu barrah-njirrHmiworrun. Why
are they on bad terms [turning their back on each
other], maybe they don’t like each other.
Syn: kangu-dinjirrmu.
njirrk(mu) v.i.
1) Be resentful, upset. This typically applies when
someone wants to revenge. Some speakers also used
njirrk(mu) to mean ‘brood over’ (when someone is
resentful but also remorseful or sad).
► Lobturi bunu kah-marnu-nang. Kanh-kun na-B.
ka-lng-njirrkminj. Kah-njirrkminj kanh-kun bukah-
bong. He found out about their love affair. This is
why B. became resentful. He resented it and this is
why he bashed her.
► Mak bala-njirrkmi, mak bala-burruni. They
didn’t hold resentment (feel vengeful), they didn’t
fight.
2) Be stumped, not know (what to do), be confused.
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 18
This can also link with the sense ‘brood (over)’.
► Kah-njirrkmu nunh kah-kurduhmu kardu marruh
ngah-yinmiyan, kah-yin (DD). He njirrkmu, that’s
when he’s uncertain, what’ll I do?, he says.
► Kardu kah-kodj-wokan, kardu. Kah-dja-njirrkmu
yalad. Like he’s thinking about things maybe. You
say he njirrkmu, he’s wondering, he’s brooding.
W – w
warndih adj. Lit: ‘?ache+PRIV’.
Warndih expresses lack of motivation and desire. It
can mean be bored (1), or be morose and sulky,
especially after an argument (2). It can also mean
not like, not want (3). Kriol: nomo wandim.
► (1) Wadda-kah mak ka-lng-ni, kah-lng-warndih-
ninj. Kah-lng-bon nidjarra kanh yang kah-
wonawonan, kah-yolh-bon. He won’t stay at home,
he was getting bored. He’ll come here and listen to
[us speaking] language, it will revive him.
► (2) Bukaye-dunginj duway-no-yih, kah-yolh-
warndih munguyh buka-dung, duway-no-yih.
Bukah-marnu-yolh-warndih kanh kirdikird. Yang-
dih-yang-dih kah-dja-ningiyan. When her husband
scolds her, she doesn’t like that he scolds her all the
time, her husband. She’s morose and sulky. She
won’t speak.
► (3) Ngey bah ngah-warndih nunh biyi. Ngah-
warndih ngey mak bulu ngah-marnu-djare. As for
me, I don’t like this man. I’m not interested, I don’t
like them.
Syn: yolh-wudj (partial). Ant: djare (partial).
warriburrun v.refl.
Cause oneself to worry intensely. (WARRI could
relate to Kriol wori (<Eng. ‘worry’).
► Kah-yawoyh-yolh-weh-minj, kardu njing-kun
djah-marnu-warriwarriburrinj. She got bad again
[your aunt who had cancer], and you, you got
yourself very worried for her.
wirrihmu v.t. Lit: ‘?or+VBLZR’.
Be distant with someone, not wish to get
emotionally involved.
► Bukah-nang, bukah-wirrihminj. Nunda mak
mararradj-ngan, nunda biyi-kinikun kah-yininj. She
saw him, and she withdrew (sitting apart). This is
not my lover (I don’t love him), this is another man,
she thinks.
wirrihmurrun v.i.
1) Change aspect.
► Mudda ngurrah-nang kah-wirrihminj, mudda
kanh ngurrah-nang kah-lng-ngurruminj. We saw
the sun and it had changed color, the sun looked red.
► Nunda Larrambi-no-kah kah-kurnh-
wirrihmirrin! Kah-kolh-dordminj. At [the billabong
called] Larrambi-no the place has changed! The
water is higher.
2) Keep one’s distances with people because of
being upset.
► Wirrih, nunh djah-wirrihmurrun, mak njel dja-
marnu-yenjdjungiyan, wirrimahkih Balang François
mak da-marnu-yenjdjungiyan. Like you were
distant, you didn’t talk to us, or you didn’t talk to
François either.
► Bale-durrun nunh balah-wirrihmurrun. When
they argue they become distant.
wurdah(mu) v.i.
1) Suffer emotionally: be desperate, worried, in grief
etc. This is usually about other people, or about
feeling homesick for instance. Often this is because
of something bad happening to a beloved person, so
that wurdah(mu) describes compassion. Sometimes,
nothing bad happens to the beloved person, but the
emotional pain is caused by absence or separation.
Often, both parameters apply.
► Mak yala-lng-ningi, yilah-wadda-bawong.
Yalah-kodj-dadjminj, yalah-wurdahminj. We didn’t
stay, we left the place, we were upset and didn’t
want to stay. We were upset.
► Balah-run ke, kahnunh! Balah-wurdahmu
wurdurd-burrng-kun. They’re crying hard there!
They’re desperate about their children [who have
been taken away].
► Balah-wurdahmu wadda-bulng-kun. [The
children who have been taken away from their
parents,] they’re desperate, they want to go back
home.
► Kardu mak bula-ngabbuyan mak bula-
dudjkeyhwoyan. Kanh ngah-marnu-bengdi
munguyh. Bah ngah-dja-lng-marnu-wurdahmu.
[About her husband in aged-care in town.] They
might not hand him back to me, they might not send
him back. That’s why I think about him all the time.
And I worry about him. I worry about him.
2) In benefactive constructions only: marnu-
wurdah(mu), be compassionate, in the sense of
being helpful, or have affection for someone. This
does not have to be accompanied by any negative
emotion.
► Bulu kah-ngabbong, balah-barrhburrinj, balah-
njenguyu. Yibung nunh kanh kah-yolh-mon, bulu
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 19
kah-naHnan. Bulu kah-marnu-wurdahminj. She
gave [a blanket] to them, they covered themselves
and they’re sleeping. She’s good this one, she looks
after them. She got compassion for them.’
► Munu weh-no bunu kah-naHnan, bunu kah-
marnu-wurdahmu. [They are not his own children,]
he just looks after them two, good on him, he
compassionately takes care of them.
wurrhka v.t. Lit: possibly ‘intestine+CSTVZR ‘KA’’.
1) Frighten someone, give someone a fright. This
can be intentional or not. If it is intentional, it can be
for fun or with other intentions.
► Kah-wurrhkang djah-burlhminj, ngah-kangu-
barrhminj. You frightened me when you appeared,
my heart quaked.
► Mikka dja-birdikka, wuda-wurrhka (DD). Don’t
go in, you might frighten him.
► Kah-wurrhkang Kamarrang njeh, kardu bawa
kah-nahnang-njerrng. [Kamarrang had given us a
fright by cutting off the power at no notice.] He
gave us a fright, Kamarrang. He was organizing
better electric plugging for us.
► Bukah-wurrhkang kanh kurdang-yih. Kardu be-
no-wurd... [In a movie, a sorcerer jokingly gives a
fright to a toddler.] The sorcerer gave him a fright.
It’s his son maybe...
► Wurrh kaye-rarreminji bulah-wurlhkang, kenbo
bulu bulah-lng-wurrhkang yuno, balah-lng-karra-
bong balaybbalay. [When hunting,] they would burn
the growing grass, then they would scare [the
kangaroos], you know, they’d go away.
2) Communicate misleading information. This can
be intentional, when one is lying (1), or tricking
someone by means of actions rather than words (2).
Wurrhka may also be used when someone does not
fulfill a promise or doesn’t act as agreed (3)).
Wurrhka also applies when the communication of
mistaken information is involuntary, i.e. when
someone is mistaken, but in good faith (4). Kriol:
delim laya.
► (1) Mak buka-ney kahke, kah-warrbminj. Bulu
kah-wurrhkang. He didn’t see her at all, he’s
making it up. He lied to them.
► (2) Bulah-bawong kahnidja. Yang djehneng bulu
kah-yawiyan-kun bah, bulah-wurrhkang. They left
[their bag] there. So that it looks [to the tracker] like
he will find them but, they tricked him.
► (3) Mak ka-wurrhkiyan, kirribuk-duninj kah-
marnu-yedudjmiyan. [When lending something to
someone.] Don’t muck me around, make sure you
bring it back to me.
► (4) Kardu dokta, nol kah-wurrhkang. Yang
djehneng kardu kah-dja-burrama-mini. Like the
doctor, he mislead us. It seemed that she was getting
better [but she eventually died].
Syn: warrb(mu).
wurrh(mu) v.i. Lit: possibly ‘intestine+VBLZR’.
1) Be surprised, either by the sight of something, or
by some new information. Wurrh(mu) is not used in
emotionally loaded contexts (where kangu-
barrh(mu) is preferred), but usually applies to more
benign suprises.
► Kah-wurdurd-ninj dah-bawong, djah-lng-
dudjminj, dah-nang nunh kanadjdjarra kornam-no,
djah-lng-wurrhminj, djah-men-yinyininj djehneng
biyi kinikun. He was a child when you left him, then
you came back, you saw that he was so tall, you
were surprised, you thought it was someone else.
► Mah Maïa mak ka-bengkey, ngah-bengmukminj
mak nga-yinmiwoy. Kenbo dubmi ngah-lng-
yinmiwong, kah-lng-wurrhminj. [A new bridge had
been built on the road leading to the village.] But
Maïa didn’t know this, I forgot to tell her. Then I
told her, she was surprised.
Syn: koh-wurrh(mu) (partial); kangu-barrh(mu)
(partial).
2) Be frightened, scared. This sense is less common.
► Ngah-dunginj bah mak nga-marnu-djong-mini.
Mak nunh nga-marnu-wurruwurrhmi. I had an
argument with him, but I didn’t get scared. I wasn’t
afraid of him.
Syn: djong-mun.
Y – y
yamarrk-barrun v.i. Lit: ‘tooth+bite+REFL’.
1) Grind teeth.
► Balah-yamarrk-barrun. Balah-yamarrk-
dordidjdordidjmu. [Old people] grind their teeth.
They grind their teeth.
2) Be or become angry.
► Ngale! Ngah-boniyan yalah-burruniyan kah-yin.
Nunda mah kah-dja-yamarrk-barrinj. Come on! I’ll
go and we’ll fight, he says. He got really angry this
one [he’s grinded teeth].
Syn: cf. yirru and kangu-yirru sets; kangu-
dadj(mu); kangu-wurlh(mu); ngarrard(mu);
ngayanganj(mu).
yedjmun v.i.
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 20
1) Feel ticklish.
► Ngah-dengu-yedjmun. My foot tickles me.
2) Feel embarrassed, typically in the presence of a
taboo relationship.
► Ngah-yedjmun mak bulu nga-berru-wiyan. I’m
feeling embarrassed [in the presence of someone in
a taboo kin category], I won’t come close to them, I
won’t interact with them.
Syn: yer(mu) (partial).
yerka v.t.
Cause someone to be ashamed, to shy away. (Rare.
The intransitive yer(mu) is much more frequent.)
Kriol: meikim sheim.
► Djah-lng-komhkomhminj, djah-dje-bruHminj.
Yow kardu bah dja-men-yerminj. Djah-men-yekang.
You left, you looked sulky. Yeah, maybe you were
embarrassed. She made you feel embarrassed.
Syn: yermikan.
yermikan v.t.
Cause someone to be ashamed, to shy away. (Rare.
The intransitive yer(mu) is much more frequent.)
Kriol: meikim sheim.
► Malk-weh balaye-marrun, ngarrah-yermu. Baka
biyi kirdikird yalah-lng-yermu. Njel bulah-yermi-
kan mah kinikinikun. When they marry with
someone with the wrong skin name, we’re ashamed.
All of us men and women, we’ll be ashamed. Other
people make us feel ashamed.
Syn: yerka.
yer(mu) v.i.
Avoid interactions because of some emotion related
to shame, shyness, respect, or fear of others in
general. The word usually denotes a behavior
triggered by these emotions. Sometimes it can
denote an emotion as such. Kriol: sheim.
► Ngah-yermu ngah-dja-ni ngah-yer (DD). I’m
ashamed, I just sit here, I’m shy.
► Mak wadda kinikun-kah yala-boniyan yalah-yer
(DD). We can’t go to any other camp, we are shy.
► Bukah-marnu-yerminj. Mak ka-yenjdjungi. Kah-
dja-yenjdjung, wanjingh-no bah, kah-yermu. She
was ashamed of her [the receptionist at a hotel]. She
didn’t speak. She spoke, a little bit, but she’s shy.
► Wurrhwurrungu ngorr bulah-ye-mang, ngorr
bulah-marnu-nguyan. Kardu mak bala-yermu. They
take things from the old people, they eat our [food].
It seems that they have no respect.
► Malk-weh balaye-marrun, ngarrah-yermu. When
they marry with someone from with the wrong skin
name, we’re ashamed.
Syn: yedjmun (partial).
yi-dih adj. Lit: ‘YI-PRIV’.
Stingy, selfish.
► Kah-yi-dih ngey mak ka-ngabbun. He’s stingy,
he doesn’t give to me.
► Kah-yi-dih nunh kanh yalaye-yin nunh mey mak
bulu ka-ngabbun madj-no mak bulu ka-ngabbun,
yibung-karn-no-kun-kih, kah-dja-yidjnjan, no-kun-
kih mey kah-ngun, bonj, kanh kah-yi-dih yalah-yin
(DD). Yi-dih is what we say when someone won’t
give food to anybody, won’t give stuff to people, he
just hangs on to his own stuff, eats food on his own,
right, that’s what we mean by yi-dih.
Syn: mo-murduk. Ant: yi-mon.
yi-mon adj. Lit: ‘YI-good’.
Good, generous.
► Kah-yi-mon, kanh kah-burrama. Kardu kah-
ngabbuyan, wirrimah kardu, bulnu kah-ngabbuyan.
She’s generous, she’s good. Like she’ll give things
to me, or maybe she’ll give to people. Ant: yi-dih;
mo-murduk.
yirru n.GEN.
1) Fight, argument, trouble.
► ‘Biyi-ngong-no-kah yirru-kah kah-kahkaninj!’
kah-yininj (DD). ‘And you brought me here to these
people, to this mob of people, you brought me to
this fight!’ he said.
► Yirru kardu barrah-durrun kardu duway-no.
They are fighting, maybe a husband and a wife.
2) Angry behavior, aggressiveness, power of
aggression.
► Nunda ngey ngah-yirru kah-yin, rrrrr, kah-yin.
Now I’m angry he says, rrrrr, he goes.
► Kah-kakku-yirru, djah-bangiyan djah-doniyan
(DD). It’s really venomous, if it bites you, you’ll
die.
yirru-burlh(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘conflict/anger+come out’.
Be or become angry.
► Nadjamorrwu kardu kah-yirru-burlhmu. Kanh
bulu kah-lng-mang bulu kah-dun-dabka. The
policeman gets angry. Then he grabs them and locks
them up.
► Barrah-yirru-burlhminj, barrah-durrun, karrung
duway. They got angry, they’re arguing, wife and
husband.
► Kah-ni, kah-dje-bruHmu, kah-kangu-yirru-
worrun. Kenh, kah-kangu-yirru-burlhmu wanjkih.
She sits quiet, she’s sulking, she is angry. Well,
she’s getting angry it seems.
Syn: kangu-dadj(mu); kangu-wurlh(mu);
yamarrk-barrun; yirru-won; yirru-ngal(mu);
yirru-ngalka; kangu-yirru-burlh(mu); yirru-
mun.
yirru-dadjka v.t. Lit: ‘conflict/anger+cut’.
Prevent someone from fighting, or appease
someone’s anger. ?Typically of man appeasing co-
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 21
wives.
► Barrah-merey-narrun kanunh kirdikird-ko. Woh
kanh biyi bunu kah-yirru-dadjka. The two wives are
jealous of each other. Yeah and the husband calms
them down.
Syn: kangu-yirru-dadjka.
yirru-don v.i. Lit: ‘conflict/anger+die, suffer/dry’. (Not
fully attested.) ?Stop fighting, calm down.
► Barrah-lng-yirru-wudjminj. Barrah-yirru-donj,
nahda nunh, barrah-lng-kangu-mon-minj. They
calmed down. They stopped fighting, they were no
longer angry, that’s when, they’ll get back to better
feelings.
Syn: kangu-yirru-bonhjmu; yirru-wudj(mu);
yirru-ngurd(mu).
yirru-mon v.i. Lit: ‘conflict/anger+good’.
Of animals or supernatural beings likely to cause
harm, either because of inherent properties (e.g.
poisonous snake), or because of temperament (e.g.
an aggressive dog). Various English translations
apply: aggressive, belligerent, dangerous, harmful,
poisonous... Kriol: djiki.
► Bah… yirru-mon nunh kanh yawurral. But... the
poisonous one, is the diamond king-brown snake.
► Ngalyurr kah-yirru-mon. The lightning spirit
[which triggers thunder and lightning] is dangerous.
► Nunh rolu kanh kaye-yirru-mon njel kah-
barlanh-bang, nunh nidjah mak yala-bon (DD).
This dog is aggressive, it might bite us, we won’t go
that way.
Syn: barng-no (partial). Ant: yirru-weh.
yirru-mun v.i. Lit: ‘conflict/anger+INCH’.
Be or become angry. This applies to all sorts of
contexts: fierce conflicts between enemies, or milder
conflicts between relatives such as parents and
children, between husbands and wives… It often
involves a violent behavior, but someone who
displays no violent behavior can be described with
yirru-mun, where the sense is emotional. Often,
there is an implication that the person in question
may become harmful, hit and harm others. Kriol:
gidwaild.
► Kah-marnu-yirru-minj mak nga-kurlhkey bah
nah-no bulu-no mak burrnga-kurlhkey kah-dje-
burhminj-njelng (DD). He got mad at me because I
didn’t go visit his mother and father, I didn’t visit
them, he’s upset with us.
► Bulu-no kardu kah-yirru-mun bulu kah-dung. His
father is angry, he scolds them.
► Karrung duway, barrah-kangu-yirru-burlhminj
djung. Kirdikird-no kah-yirru-minj, bukah-buyan
duway-no-kahyih. The wife and the husband, they’re
angry at each other. The woman is angry, she’ll
fight with her husband.
► Balah-djawarruniyan... Keninjh-kun nulah-
yamung, nulah-bawoyi kardu balah-yinmiyan.
Balah-kakku-yirru-minj. They’ll wonder... Why did
you spear him, you should have let him go they say.
They got really mad [and speared him].
Syn: kangu-wurlh(mu); yamarrk-barrun; yirru-
burlh(mu); yirru-ngalka; yirru-ngal(mu); yirru-
won; kangu-yirru-mun.
yirru-ngalka v.t. Lit: ‘conflict/anger+find’.
Be or become angry.
► Kanh kirdikird-ko munguyh burra-yirru-ngalka.
These two women quarrel [find anger] all the time.
► Djah-marnu-yirru-ngalkang. [Wirrimah] njing
kardu kanh dah-marnu-yirru-ngalkang. She’s angry
at you [she found your anger]. [Or] you maybe
you’re angry at her [you found her anger].
Syn: kangu-dadj(mu); kangu-wurlh(mu);
yamarrk-barrun; yirru-burlh(mu); yirru-
ngal(mu); yirru-mun; yirru-won; kangu-yirru-
ngal(mu).
yirru-ngal(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘conflict/anger+appear’.
Be or become angry. There is often—but not
always—an implication that one is about to become
physically aggressive.
► Barrah-kakku-yirru-ngalminj, barrah-
burruniyan-kun. They’re really angry, so that they’ll
have a fight.
► Nganabbarru kah-yirru-mon. Nunh kanh kah-
lng-yirru-ngalmiyan. Buffaloes are aggressive. This
is why they get angry [and charge people].
► Bah korre ngah-dja-yirru-ngalminj, ngah-
bolarn-yinmiwong. Bah derrh-no-bo ngah-niyan
kanh nunh kanh kaye-yinmiyan, nunh ngah-lng-
yinmiwoyan. But I was already angry before. I was
about to tell him, but I’ll tell him later when he talks
to me, then I’ll tell him.
Syn: kangu-dadj(mu); kangu-wurlh(mu);
yamarrk-barrun; yirru-burlh(mu); yirru-ngalka;
yirru-mun; yirru-won; kangu-yirru-ngal(mu).
yirru-ngandung v.t. Lit: ‘conflict/anger+CALL’.
Display anger against someone, argue with
someone.
► Djah-lng-marnu-yirru-ngandunginj, kah-lng-
woh-kangu-yirru-ngalminji, djah-woh-dunginji
kardu keninjh bukah-men-nguninj. He started
quarrelling wih you, and he became irritated, he
started arguing with you all the time, I don’t know
what happened to him.
► Nunh kanunh kirdikird, munguyh bulah-marnu-
yenHyenjdjung, nunh kah-lng-kangu-dadjmu, nunh
kah-lng-yirru-ngandung. Balah-lng-burrun. This
woman, they’re always talking about her, then she’ll
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 22
lose temper, and she’ll argue with them. Then they
fight.
yirru-ngurd(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘conflict/anger+keep quiet’.
Calm down, stop arguing or fighting.
► Barrah-dja-ni munu, yirru-dih. Barrah-lng-yirru-
ngurdminj. They just sit down quiet, not arguing.
They calmed down, they put an end to the argument.
Syn: yirru-don; yirru-wudj(mu).
yirru-wayhka v.t. Lit: ‘conflict/anger+lift up-
out/open’.
Stir up someone’s anger, cause someone to want to
fight.
► Bukah-yirru-wayhkang, kanh nguh-yirru-yih
(SC). He stirred up his anger [lifted/opened his
anger], this nasty bellicose one.
Syn: kangu-yirru-wayhka.
yirru-weh adj. Lit: ‘conflict/anger+bad’.
Inoffensive (for instance a snake that is not
poisonous).
► En kurridjardu du mahkih [...]. Kah-yirru-weh.
And the olive python neither. It’s not poisonous.
Ant: yirru-mon.
yirru-won v.?t. Lit: ‘conflict/anger+CSTVZR’.
Be angry or become angry (against someone?).
► Ngah-bolan-yirru-won, ngah-bolan-yirru-
burlhminj, bah kahke-no mak nga-yirru-burlhmu. I
nearly got angry, I nearly exploded, but no, I don’t
let my anger out.
Syn: kangu-dadj(mu); kangu-wurlh(mu);
yamarrk-barrun; yirru-burlh(mu); yirru-ngalka;
yirru-ngal(mu); yirru-mun; kangu-yirru-worrun.
yirru-wudj(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘conflict/anger+end/die’.
Calm down, get rid of anger, stop arguing.
► Barrah-yirru-boyenj-minj, kenbo kah-mon
barrah-yirru-wudjmiyan. Barrah-yawoyh-
marruniyan. They got really angry, then alright they
calmed down. They’ll get on well again.
Syn: yirru-ngurd(mu); yirru-don.
yolh-bak(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘pep/feelings+break’.
(Not fully attested.) Forgive someone.
► Djah-marnu-yolh-bakminj yibung-yih. As for
him, he forgave you.
Syn: kangu-bak(mu).
yolh-boled(mu) Variant: yolh-borled(mu). v.i. Lit:
‘pep/feelings+turn’.
1) For a child to have a tantrum, or to be capricious
in general (disposition).
► Wurdurd-wurd kah-yolh-boledmu, kardu mey-
kun kah-yolh-boled o kardu loli-kun. This little child
is having a tantrum, maybe for food, or lollies
maybe.
► Nunh wurdurd kanh kaye-berrhmang, bulah-
kangu-boyohmu radjdja-yih, nunh mak ka-lng-yolh-
borledmu, mak ka-run munguyh. [...] Mak nah-no
bulu-no bunu ka-kelkwon. When a child is born,
they massage her belly with sand, so that she does
not become capricious, does not cry all the time. [...]
She doesn’t bother her parents.
2) Feel negatively about someone who used to be
close (spouse, close relative), lose positive
emotional connection with someone.
► Djah-bong duway-ngu-yih, dah-marnu-
mayahmayahmu, mak yolh-wanjingh narra-ni, dah-
marnu-yolh-borledmi. Your husband bashed you,
you’re mad at him, you’re no longer united
emotionally, you no longer love him.
► Yabok-ngan yarrah-durruninj, ngah-marnu-yolh-
boledminj. My sister and I had an argument, I’m
upset with her.
yolh-bon v.i. Lit: ‘pep/feelings+go’.
Feel better. This can be get better physically (get
rested) or it can have an emotional dimension
(become more enthusiastic).
► Ngah-bon nahda ngah-loydi, ngah-yolh-boniyan-
kun. Ngah-yolh-yalalamiyan. I’ll go over there and
vanish for a moment, to recover. I’ll get a rest.
► Narrah-dolku-ngabburrinj bah mak narra-kodj-
dadj, bah kahnidjah kardu narrah-dja-ni narrah-
yolh-bon. You’re sitting turning your back to each
other, but you’re not sulking, you’re just sitting
there, resting.
► Wadda-kah mak ka-lng-ni, kah-lng-warndih-
minj, kah-lng-bon nidjarra kanh yang kah-
wonawonan, kah-yolh-bon. He won’t stay home,
he’d get bored, he’ll come here and listen [to us
talking in] language [Dalabon], he will be revived.
yolh-burrama adj. Lit: ‘pep/feelings+good’.
Feel good. The sense is more often emotional. Yolh-
burrama was sometimes used to describe ‘being in a
good mood’, i.e. feeling good in this particular
moment (self-oriented, 1). At other times it meant
‘be a good person’, referring to someone’s positive
feelings for others (2). In some cases, yolh-burrama
refers to a more general state, including physical
well-being (3). Yolh-burrama is far less frequent
than yolh-mon, and also less frequent than kangu-
burrama. Kriol: gudbinji.
► (1) Mak ka-kakku-yolh-burrama. Kah-dje-kolmu,
bah buyirrhwalungh mak ka-kakku-dje-kolmu kahke,
kah-kangu-murduk. She’s not really feeling good.
She looks cheerful, but deep inside she’s not really
cheerful.
► (2) Kah-marnu-kangu-yowyowminj, bah mak ka-
kakku-yolh-burrama. Kah-yolh-weh-yolh-weh nunh
bah njel kah-drekimhminj. He was kind to us, but he
didn’t really mean well. He’s nasty, he ripped us off.
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 23
► (3) Dabarngh mak nga-yolh-burrama-mini.
Dubmi ngah-yolh-burrama. Yesterday I wasn’t
feeling well [I was feeling crooked]. Today I feel
good.
Syn: yolh-mon; kangu-burrama. Ant: yolh-weh.
yolh-di v.i. Lit: ‘pep/feelings+stand/be’.
Have desires, feel like. This is an alternative to yolh-
ni, which is more common.
► ‘Ngah-dja-marne-yolh-di’, dah-yinmiwon (DD).
‘I (still) love you’, you say to her.
Syn: yolh-ni; kangu-di.
yolh-djare v.i. Lit: ‘pep/feelings+like, love/want’. Yolh-
djare was used occasionally with the sense ‘like’
(have affection for), i.e. instead of djare, which can
be used alone.
► Mak bunu ka-marnu-yolh-mon. Kah-dja-ni-
yibung-karn, men-kun. Mak bulu kah-kakku-marnu-
yolh-djare. He doesn’t feel good about them. He
stays by himself, ?minding his own business?. He
doesn’t like them.
Syn: djare.
yolh-dukkarrun v.refl. Lit: ‘pep/feelings+tie:REFL’.
Feel depressed, chronically anxious, typically when
thinking constantly about someone who has died or
who is absent. This leads to physical sickness.
Remaining active, spending time with beloved
people who make you happy, can prevent or cure
this state.
► Kah-moyh-ngalkarrun, kirdikird-no bukah-
bengkan. Kah-lng-yolh-dukkarrinj. Barrah-yolh-
dukkarrun kardu. [When the woman he loves is
away], he’ll make himself sick, thinking about his
woman. He’ll get depressed. Like they both get
depressed.
► Nunh munguyh ngaye-ningiyan, munguyh ngaye-
bengkiyan, nunh wunga-yelng-moyh-rakkan. Yolh-
ngan wunga-yolh-dukkarrun. [After losing someone
close,] if I sit around all day, if I think about it all
day, then I might fall sick. My spirits, I might get
depressed.
► Yolh-monmon-kih djah-lng-ningiyan. Kahnidja
djilah-ye-ningiyan, kanunh djongok-ngu kardu...
kardak-ngu wirrimah nah-ngu, yabok-ngu, wulkun-
djan-ngu... Nalah-djarrk-ningiyan djilah-ye-
ningiyan, nunh kah-mon. Mak dja-lng-yolh-
dukkarruniyan. Djah-yolh-mon-miniyan munguyh.
Nalah-djarrk-men-werremurruniyan. You’ll feel
great. When you are there with them, like your
aunt... your uncle or your mother, your big sister,
your little sister... You’ll be together, they stay with
you, and it’s OK. You won’t feel depressed. You’ll
keep feeling good. You distract each other [from the
bad thoughts].
yolh-kurduhka v.t. Lit: ‘pep/feelings+block’.
Make someone feel bad because of one’s behavior
(e.g. being awkward or aggressive). This does not
have to be intentional.
► Kamanj Kodjok wadda-burrng-kah ngah-bon
kanidjah, bah, ngah-nan mahkih, balah-drongkmu.
Nunh mak nga-lng-yolh-mon-mun, ngah-yolh-weh-
mun. Bulah-yolh-kurduhka drongkenwan-yih. Mak
nga-dje-bruHmu. Ngah-yolh-kurduh. I go there to
Kamanj and Kodjok’s house, but there I find,
they’re drunk. I won’t feel good then, I feel bad.
They make me feel uneasy when they’re drunk. I’m
not sad or sulky. I’m just feeling uncomfortable,
anxious.
yolh-kurduh(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘pep/feelings+be blocked’.
Feel bad because of other people. This can be when
one feels uneasy, especially in the presence of
someone with a disturbing behavior, or when other
people are not kind.
► Kamanj Kodjok wadda-burrng-kah ngah-bon
kanidjah, bah, ngah-nan mahkih, balah-drongkmu.
Nunh mak nga-lng-yolh-mon-mun, ngah-yolh-weh-
mun. Bulah-yolh-kurduhka drongkenwan-yih. Mak
nga-dje-bruHmu. Ngah-yolh-kurduh. I go there to
Kamanj and Kodjok’s house, but there I find,
they’re drunk. I won’t feel good then, I feel bad.
They make me feel uneasy when they’re drunk. I’m
not sad or sulky. I’m just feeling uncomfortable,
nervous.
► Biyi-no barrah-durrinj, nah-no mah bukah-
bengdunginj. Kanh-kun kah-lng-yolh-kurduhmu.
She had an argument with her husband, and her
mother told her off. That’s why she’s upset.
yolh-marnbun v.t. Lit: ‘pep/feelings+make’.
To comfort someone, to make this person feel
emotionally good.
► Kardu munu kah-dja-kangu-darrmu. Biyi-no-kih,
dohkardu nah-no bulu-no kardu bulu kah-bengkan.
Yang djehneng bukah-yolh-marnbuyan, bukah-
marnu-yenjyenjdjung bukah-rewon. Kahke-no mak
buka-marnu-kangu-redjing. Maybe she’s just sad.
She may be thinking about her own husband, or her
mother and father. It looks like he’s comforting her,
he’s talking to her and laughing with her. But to no
avail, he doesn’t cheer her up.
yolh-marnburrun v.refl. Lit:
‘pep/feelings+make+REFL’.
To feel better, either physically (get rested, 1), or
emotionally (2 and 3). The emotional sense applies
regardless of the nature of the preceding negative
feelings. They can be self-oriented (2: recovering
from feeling sad), or target others (3: calming down
after getting angry).
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 24
► (1) Djah-dudjminj, djah-yolh-marnburruninj,
djah-njenguyo. Dubmi, djah-lng-yolh-mon-minj.
You got back [home], you got rested, you slept.
Now, you’re feeling good.
► (2) Ngah-yolh-weh-ninj bah, ngah-yawoh-yolh-
marnburrinj, wurdurd-yih bulah-yolh-monwong. I
was feeling bad [after losing my husband] but, I got
to feel a bit better, [the presence of] the children
comforted me.
► (3) Barrah-yirru-minj, kardu kenbo barrah-yolh-
marnburrun, barrah-lng-yolh-mon-miniyan.
Karrung duway. They were angry, and then they
calmed down, their feelings eased. The wife and the
husband.
Syn: yolh-bon (partial); yolh-mon; yolh-
yalala(mu) (partial).
yolh-mon(-mun) adj. Lit:
‘pep/feelings+good(+INCH)’.
1) Feel good, either emotionally or physically. Yolh-
mon is the most common emotional term in
Dalabon. When the sense is emotional, it can be
self-oriented (be happy, be pleased: 1 to 4).
Alternatively, the feelings can target someone, in
which case the sense is ‘get on (with someone)’ (5
and 6), or ‘be kind’ (a disposition, 7). This sense
often occurs with benefactive constructions (6).
Yolh-mon can also mean ‘feel good physically’ (8).
Sometimes the sense is both emotional and physical
(9).
► (1) Kakkak-no kardu kah-lng-yolh-mon. Bulu
kah-marnu-njerrh-ye-dudjminj ma. His grandmother
will surely be happy. He’s bringing the dead
[kangaroo] back to them alright.
► (2) Dah-milh-djonghmu, dohkardu dah-ngalbak-
djonghmu. Kuku-yolh-mon-mun. You kiss [the little
girl] on her forehead, or on her cheek. To make her
feel good.
► (3) Ngah-marnu-yolh-mon-minj, mulah-ngan-
kun. I’m feeling better about my aunt [who passed
away].
► (4) Rolu kahnun, kah-warhwarhmu, kah-yolh-
mon, kuluhkuluh-no-kah (DD). That dog is wagging
its tail, it’s happy to be with its master.
► (5) Yo, djah-lng-marnu-yenjdjung kanh, kah-
mon, kah-lng-yolh-mon, njing-kun. Yeah, he speaks
to you now, it’s OK, he feels good, about you (he
gets along with you).
► (6) Mak bulu nga-marnu-yenjdjung, mak bulu
nga-marnu-yolh-mon. Wadda-ngan-kih-kah ngey-
karn ngah-ni. I don’t speak to them, I don’t get
along with them. I stay by myself at my own place.
► (7) Yibung nunh kanh kah-yolh-mon, bulu kah-
naHnan. She’s kind this one, she looks after them.
► (8) Djah-njenguyungiyan, djah-lng-dokkiyan...
Djah-wonarruniyan, djah-lng-yolh-mon-muniyan!
You’ll sleep, you’ll wake up... See how you feel,
you’ll feel good!
► (9) Kah-yolh-mon-minj. Kanh kah-kolh-nomung,
bukah-yolh-mon-wong. He’s feeling better now.
This [petrol] he sniffed, it made him feel good.
Syn: kangu-burrama (partial); kangu-mon
(partial). Ant: yolh-weh; kangu-weh-no; kangu-
weh-mun.
2) Feel like doing something, when yolh-mon is
followed by a sentence describing a possible future
event.
► Yolh-no mak ka-yolh-mon kah-boniyan. Kah-
warndih. As for him, he won’t go, he doesn’t feel
like it. He’s not up to it.
► Djah-yolh-mon-miniyan, kardu... djeh-
burruniyan. Do you want us two to... fight together?
yolh-murduk adj. Lit: ‘pep/feelings+hard/strong’. Yolh-
murduk is a less common alternative for kangu-
murduk. It has the same senses.
Syn: kangu-murduk.
1) Be socially confident: typically self-assertive, in
particular in conflicts.
► Kardu yirru bale-durrun, duway-no barrah-
durrun, nunh kah-yolh-murduk. Mak ka-dudjmiyan,
kah-bon wulungmunguyh. When she argues with
people, or with her husband, she’s strong. She won’t
come back, she goes away altogether.
2) Have negative feelings, not be open to others, i.e.
be austere (self-oriented) or selfish, cold-hearted
(targeting others).
► Nunh mak ka-redjing, nunh mak ka-yolh-ni, kah-
dja-ni yibung-karn yolh-murduk. She doesn’t laugh,
she has no enthusiasm, she just stays by herself,
emotionally closed.
► Munguhdjamh njel kah-ngabbuninj, nekenda
kah-yolh-weh-minj, mak njel ka-lng-ngabbun.
Kardu keninjh bukah-yolh-ngunj, kah-yawh-lng-
yolh-murduk-bong. She used to give us all sorts of
things, but now she’s cold-hearted, she doesn’t give
us anything. I don’t know what’s wrong with her,
she’s turned selfish.
yolh-nan v.t. Lit: ‘pep/feelings+see’.
See what someone is feeling or thinking.
► Djah-yolh-naninj korre (DD). I could see what
you were feeling before.
► Korreh djah-yolh-nan. Kardu marruh djah-yolh-
yin. Djah-bengkan buhkorrehkun, djah-yolh-
bengkan. I can guess your feelings. How you feel.
I’ve known you for a long time, I know how you
react emotionally.
yolh-ngun v.t. Lit: ‘pep/feelings+eat’.
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 25
Yolh-ngun is used to ask pseudo-questions, when
one doesn’t understand why someone is acting the
way they do, or doesn’t understand what they do or
feel. Literally, these questions translate as ‘what ate
your will’, ‘what ate your feelings’. In English one
would say ‘what’s going on?’, ‘what’s wrong with
you?’. Often there is a negative connotation, but
sometimes the speaker simply expresses an
interrogation. Yolh-ngun is not used in other
contexts.
► Kah-wurdiHminj, bulu kah-bawong. [...] Keninjh
bukah-yolh-ngunj. She took off, she left them [...]. I
don’t know what was wrong with her.
► Kanh-dorrungh balah-boninj nahda didjko.
Kardu keninjh bulu kah-lng-yolh-ngunj kurdo...
They went there to the disco party with him. God
knows what they were thinking [I don’t know what
ate their feelings].
► Keninjh mah djah-yolh-ngun? Keninjh mah djah-
yolh-yin? Bah djah-yolh-warhwan. What’s
happening to you? How do you feel? I don’t know
what you’re feeling.
yolh-ni v.i. Lit.: ‘pep/feelings+sit/be’
Feel good; feel like, be up to doing things. This
applies when someone feels like doing something,
or when someone likes a person, in which case it
means ‘to love’ (including romantic love).
► Yibung-karn kanh kaye-yolh-ni, nunh kanh kah-
redjing. If someone is happy, she will smile or
laugh.
► Kah-yolh-ni kah-boniyan nuhkah kah-djangkiyan
(DD). He feels like going there to hunt.
► Ngah-yolh-wudj, mak nga-yolh-ni. I have no
energy, I’m not motivated.
► Mak buka-kakku-marnu-yolh-ningi. Men-kun
bukah-dja-ye-ninj. Kardu mak buka-kakku-marnu-
djare-mini. She didn’t really love him. She stayed
with him in self-interest. Like she didn’t really love
him.
Syn: kangu-di; yolh-di.
yolh-no n.PA.
Someone’s yolh-no is their energy, which is both
physical and emotional. It defines the person’s
enthusiasm or spirit, pep, drive, desires, feelings. It
can also relate to motivation and will.
► Bulah-yolh-naninj, yolh-ngan warnumun ngah-
boninj. They knew what I felt like, my feelings, I
went on my own.
► Nunh, yolh-ngan kanh ngunga-yolh-dukkarrun
mah ngah-moyh-yu. This is when, my spirit might
get low [entangled] and I get sick.
► Yolh-ngan, nidjarra ngah-ni. Mak kinikah nga-
boniyan. As for me, my desire is to stay here. I
won’t go anywhere else.
yolh-redji v.i. Lit: ‘pep/feelings+laugh/smile’.
Feel happy, cheerful.
► Wanjingh-no kah-dja-yawoh-yolh-yerrkmu,
wanjingh-no kah-dja-woh-redjing yelng bonj.
Buyirrhwalung mak ka-kakku-yolh-redjing kahke.
She feels pleased for a short moment, she’s cheerful
for a while, then it’s over. Deep inside, she is not
really happy.
yolh-warndih v.i. Lit: ‘pep/feelings+?ache+PRIV (lack
motivation)’.
(Not fully attested.) Sulk after an argument.
► Kirdikird-no bukaye-dunginj duway-no-yih, kah-
yolh-warndih munguyh buka-dung, duway-no-yih.
Yang-dih-yang-dih kah-dja-ningiyan. When her
husband scolds her, she doesn’t like that he scolds
her all the time, her husband. She’s morose and
sulky. She won’t speak.
yolh-weh adj. Lit: ‘pep/feelings+bad’.
Feel bad. Yolh-weh is a generic term which can
apply to all sorts of negative states. Yolh-weh is
more commonly used to talk about negative feelings
(1 to 7), but it can also mean feel physically bad (8).
When the sense is emotional, it can describe self-
oriented feelings like feeling upset, sad, unhappy (1
to 3). Alternatively, and more rarely, yolh-weh can
refer to feelings that target other people (be angry,
be in a bad mood, 4 and 5). This sense can refer to a
momentary state, or to someone’s disposition to be
in a bad mood (personality feature: be selfish, mean,
nasty, 6 and 7).
► (1) Kah-yolh-weh-mun, biyi-no kardu bukah-
bengkan, mak ka-yolh-mon (DD). She feels upset,
maybe she’s thinking about her husband, she isn’t
happy.
► (2) Mak nabikeninjh bukah-krulkrulhka. Bah
kah-dja-ni yibung-walung-kun, kah-yolh-weh-mun.
Nobody visits him. So he stays by himself, he’s
unhappy.
► (3) Kardu kah-yolh-weh-minj. Kanh ngal-
kohbanj kah-doninj. Like he’s sad. That the old
woman has died.
► (4) Ngah-yolh-weh, mak bulu nga-marnu-
yenjdjungiyan. I’m grumpy, I won’t speak to them.
► (5) Bukah-marnu-kangu-wokarrun, mak buka-
bangmu-marnu-kangu-yerrkmu. Yibung-karn kah-
dja-ni biyi kahnunh, yolh-weh-kun. Yibung-karn
kirdikird kanh kah-ni, yolh-weh-kun. She resents
him, she won’t forgive him yet. The man stays by
himself, angry. The woman stays by herself, angry.
► (6) Kah-marnu-kangu-yowyowminj, bah
mak ka-kakku-yolh-burrama. Kah-yolh-weh-yolh-
weh nunh bah njel kah-drekimhminj. He was kind to
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 26
us, but he didn’t really mean well. He’s nasty, he
ripped us off.
► (7) Munguhdjamh njel kah-ngabbuninj, nekenda
kah-yolh-weh-minj, mak njel ka-lng-ngabbun.
Kardu keninjh bukah-yolh-ngunj, kah-yawh-lng-
yolh-murduk-bong. She used to give us all sorts of
things, but now she’s cold-hearted, she doesn’t give
us anything. I don’t know what’s wrong with her,
she’s turned selfish.
► (8) Kah-yolh-weh-mun, kardu kah-kakku-
ngarrkmu. Kah-moyh-yu. She feels bad, like she’s
deeply in pain. She’s sick.
Syn: yolh-wehkurla; kangu-weh (partial). Ant:
kangu-mon (partial); yolh-mon.
yolh-wokarrun v.refl. Lit: ‘pep/feelings+talk+REFL’.
(Not fully attested.) Feel resentful. Lit:
‘pep/feelings+talk+REFL’.
► Mak bulu bula-kakku-marnu-djare,
bulu bulah-ngurrung-dung. Balah-yolh-wokarrun.
Kanh-kun munguyh balah-dje-bruH. They don’t like
them, they are hostile to them. They feel resentful.
That’s why they’re sulky all the time.
Syn: kangu-wokarrun.
yolh-wudj(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘pep/feelings+end/die’.
Lack energy, not be up to doing anything. This
describes people who sit down quiet, without talking
or doing anything. The state in question can have
physical causes (be tired, be sick, be old); or it can
be associated with an emotional state (be sulky, not
speak to others).
► Kardu balah-moyh-yu... Kardu balah-yolh-
wudj... Kardu mak bulu bulah-woniyan... Balah-dja-
lng-niningiyan, yang-di-yang-dih. [Old people,] they
may be sick... They have no energy... They can’t
hear us... They’ll just sit around, silent.
► Bah yolh-mon-kih ngah-dja-ni, bah ngah-mo-
wudj mak nga-worhbon. Mak mah bulu nga-marnu-
yenjdjung. Ngey-walung-kun ngah-dja-ni ngah-mo-
yolh-wudj. But I’m alright, but I have no energy so I
won’t go anywhere. I don’t talk to people. I just sit
around by myself, I’m tired.
► Mak ngorr ka-yang-woyan. Kardu kah-yolh-
wudjmu ngokorrng. Kardu kah-yirru-mun. He
doesn’t talk to us. He may be sulky about us. Like
he’s angry.
yolh-yalala(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘pep/feelings+?’. Be rested,
feel physically good. Yolh-yalala(mu) was also
translated as Kriol hepi (<Eng. ‘happy’), suggesting
an emotional sense, but there are no examples of
this sense.
► Djah-njenguyungiyan, kenbo djah-lng-
dokkiyan… Djah-wonarruniyan djah-lng-yolh-mon-
muniyan! Djah-lng-yolh-yalalamiyan. You’ll sleep,
then you’ll wake up… See how you feel, you’ll feel
good! You’ll feel rested.
Syn: yolh-marnburrun.
yolh-yerrk(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘pep/feelings+slip/be
released’.
Yolh-yerrk(mu) is an alternative to kangu-yerrk(mu).
It is less frequent. It means to get rid of negative
feelings: either to feel relieved (self-oriented), or to
forgive someone.
► Balah-burlh-wadjminj borda! Balah-lng-yolh-
yerrkminj. Balah-dja-lng-dudjmu wadda-kah. Oh
God they reached the place! They are relieved.
They’ve made it back home.
► Bukah-marnu-kangu-wokarrun malung. Bah,
kah-bengdi... Ngale kardu kah-dja-duway-ngan-kih.
Ngah-marnu-yolh-yerrkmu. She resented him at
first. But, she thought about it... Well, he’s my own
husband she thought. I’ll forgive him.
Syn: kangu-yerrk(mu).
yolh-yin v.i. Lit: ‘pep/feelings+say/do’.
Feel, feel like. Yolh-yin is used only when one
wonders about how someone feels, or about what
one feels like.
► Korreh djah-yolh-nan. Kardu marruh djah-yolh-
yin. I can guess your feelings. How you feel.
► Kardu djob kah-boniyan, mak kardu ka-
bayehmiyan, kardu kah-kurduhmu. Kardu kumarruh
kah-yolh-yin. He might go to the shop, but not buy
anything, like he hesitates. What does he feel like...
Syn: kangu-yin; yolh-ngun (partial).
yolh-yord(mu) v.i. Lit: ‘pep/feelings+body fluid be
released’.
Feel better. The sense can be physical: get rested. Or
it can be emotional: feel relieved.
► Kanh ngarrah-lng-yolh-yalwaymiyan djulu-kah.
Ngarrah-yolh-yordmiyan. Then we rest in the shade.
We recover [from walking].
► Djilah-marnu-mon-wong kah-burrama-minj,
djah-kangu-mon-minj. Djah-yolh-yordminj. They
fixed [your car] for you, it’s fixed, you feel better.
You are relieved.
Syn: yolh-marnburrun; yolh-yalala(mu).
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 27
Emotion Finder-List
English translations are approximations of the sense of the Dalabon lexemes. Each Dalabon lexeme may be
assigned to several English translations.
A – a
ache v.i. kormu
² v.i. kangu-wurlh(mu) afraid NA. djong(-no)
v.i. djong-marrun
v.i. djong-mun
aggressive adj. kodj-yirru
adj. yirru-mon
aggressiveness n.GEN. yirru
anger n.GEN. yirru
angry adj. kodj-yirru
adj. yolh-weh
v.i. kangu-wurlh(mu)
v.t. kodj-dukkan
angry at v.t. kangu-yirru-nan
angry (be/become) v.i. kangu-dadj(mu)
v.i. kangu-yirru-burlh(mu)
v.i. kangu-yirru-mun
v.i. kangu-yirru-ngal(mu)
v.i. kangu-yirru-worrun
v.i. yamarrk-barrun
v.i. ngarrard(mu)
v.i. ngayanganj(mu)
v.i. yirru-burlh(mu)
v.i. yirru-mun
v.i. yirru-ngal(mu)
v.t. yirru-ngalka
v.?t. yirru-won
anxious v.i. kangu-kurduh(mu)
v.i. ngerh-dorlhdorlh(mu)
v.i. ngerh-dowdow(mu)
v.i. yolh-kurduh(mu)
v.refl. yolh-dukkarrun
appease v.t. yirru-dadjka
appease (someone) v.t. kangu-yirru-dadjka
appeased v.i. kangu-yirru-bonjhmu
appreciate someone v.t. kangu-nan
apprehensive v.i. mud-kele-mun
argue v.t. yirru-ngandung
argument n.GEN. yirru
ashamed v.i. koh-yedjmun
v.i. koh-yer(mu)
v.i. medmo-yer(mu)
v.i. men-yer(mu)
v.i. yer(mu)
astonished v.t. kuhmu
astounded v.t. kuhmu
austere adj. kangu-murduk
adj. yolh-murduk
avert one’s gaze v.i. djudkurl(mu)
v.i. mumu-yer(mu)
B – b
bad adj. kodj-weh
bad character adj. kodj-murduk
bad feelings v.i. kangu-dinjirrmu
bad mood adj. yolh-weh
v.i. kangu-weh-mun
bad terms (be on) v.t. dolku-ngabbun
bend down v.i. djud-kurlkkurlkan
v.i. djudkurl(mu)
betray v.t. wurrhka
bitter adj. brang-no
bored adj. warndih
brave adj. djong-bruk
adj. mud-bruk
brood over v.i. njirrk(mu)
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 28
C – c
calm down v.i. kangu-yirru-bonjhmu
v.i. yirru-don
v.i. yirru-ngurd(mu)
v.i. yirru-wudj(mu)
capricious v.i. yolh-boled(mu)
carry on v.refl. kangu-wokarrun
change v.i. wirrhmurrun
cheerful v.i. yolh-redji
cold-hearted adj. kangu-murduk
adj. yolh-murduk
comfort v.t. yolh-marnbun
compassionate v.i. kangu-wurdah(mu)
v.i. wurdah(mu)
v.t. marrbun
confident (self-) adj. kangu-bruk
adj. kangu-murduk
adj. yolh-murduk
confused v.i. njirrk(mu)
courageous adj. djong-bruk
adj. mud-bruk
D – d
dangerous adj. brang
adj. yirru-mon
deceive v.t. wurrhka
depressed v.refl. yolh-dukkarrun
desire v.i. yolh-ni
desire (sexually) v.refl. kom-nunj-wukmurrun
desires n.PAW. yolh-no
despair v.i. kangu-wurdah(mu)
v.i. wurdah(mu)
determined adj. kodj-murduk
dislike v.refl. yolh-wokarrun
distant v.i. wirrihmurrun
v.t. wirrihmu
E – e
embarrass v.t. medmo-nan
embarrassed v.i. koh-yedjmun
v.i. koh-yer(mu)
v.i. medmo-yer(mu)
v.i. men-yer(mu)
v.i. yedjmun
energy n.PA. yolh-no
F – f
fall in love v.i. ngurlk-marrun
fear NA djong(-no)
v.i. djong+movement/posture
feel v.i. kangu-yin
v.i. yolh-yin
feel a presence v.i. dolku-yermu
feel bad adj. ngerh-weh(-mun)
adj. yolh-weh
v.i. kangu-muk(mu)
v.i. kangu-run
v.i. kangu-weh-mun
feel better v.i. yolh-bon
v.refl. yolh-marnburrun
feel good adj. kangu-burrama
adj. kangu-mon
adj. yolh-burrama
adj. yolh-mon(-mun)
feel like adj. yolh-mon(-mun)
v.i. yolh-di
v.i. yolh-ni
v.i. yolh-yin
feelings n.PA. yolh-no
fight n.GEN. yirru
forgive v.i. kangu-bak(mu)
v.i. kangu-yerrk(mu)
v.i. yolh-bak(mu)
v.i. yolh-yerrk(mu)
friendly adj. kangu-burrama
frighten v.t. wurrhka
frightened v.i. wurrh(mu)
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 29
v.t. kelehmu furious v.i. kangu-darridj(mu)
v.refl. mo-barrun
G – g
generous adj. yi-mon
get along with v.t. kangu-nan
good person adj. kangu-burrama
v.t. kodj-mon
good mood adj. yolh-burrama
adj. yolh-mon(-mun)
v.t. kodj-mon
goosebumps v.t. mud-nahbu
grief v.i. kangu-damh(mu)
v.i. kangu-darr(mu)
v.i. ngerh-djaw(mu)
H – h
happy adj. kangu-burrama
v.i. kangu-yowyow(mu)
v.i. yolh-redji
harmful adj. brang-no
v.i. yirru-mon
hate v.t. ngurrung-dung
v.t. njirrhmiwon
hostile v.i. kangu-dinjirrmu
v.t. ngurrung-dung
v.t. njirrhmiwon
I – i
indulgent adj. kangu-berlh
infuriated v.i. kangu-darridj(mu)
v.refl. mo-barrun
inoffensive adj. yirru-weh
intelligent v.t. kodj-mon
irritated (be/become) v.i. kangu-yirru-burlh(mu)
v.i. yirru-burlh(mu)
J – j
jealous v.i. merey-di
v.t. merey-nan
v.t. merey-nguddu
v.t. njerrh-ye-merey-di
jealously ?adv. merey
K – k
kind adj. kangu-bola
adj. kangu-kerlk
v.i. kangu-yowyow(mu)
L – l
lack motivation v.i. mo-wudj(mu)
lie v.t. wurrhka
like adj. djare
adj. ngurlk-kardubun
adj. yolh-mon(-mun)
v.i. kangu-di
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 30
v.i. ngerh-waddi
v.i. ngurlk-di
v.i. ngurlk-karlh(mu)
lose temper v.i. kangu-dadj(mu)
love adj. djare
v.i. kangu-di
v.i. ngerh-waddi
v.i. ngurlk-di
v.i. ngurlk-karlh(mu)
v.i. ngurlk-ye-yirrkki-mang
v.i. yolh-djare
v.i. yolh-ni
M – m
mean adj. kangu-weh-no
adj. kodj-weh
adj. yi-dih
v.i. kangu-weh-mun
mislead v.t. wurrhka
miss v.i. kodj-wuluyh(?-mu)
v.i. ngerh-djaw(mu)
v.i. ngurlk-djawar(mu)
morose adj. warndih
motivation (lack) v.i. yolh-wudj(mu)
move (emotionally) v.t. kangu-mang
N – n
nasty adj. kangu-weh-no
nervous v.i. kangu-kurduh(mu)
v.i. kangu-marrka
nice adj. kangu-bola
adj. kangu-burrama
adj. kangu-kerlk
adj. yolh-burrama
v.i. kangu-yowyow(mu)
O – o
open (emotionally) adj. kodj-kerlk
v.t. kodj-mon
P – p
pep n.PA. yolh-no
pleased v.i. kangu-redji
v.i. kangu-yowyow(mu)
poisonous adj. brang-no
v.i. yirru-mon
premonition v.i. kangu-karndi
Q – q
quiet adj. kangu-bola
R – r
reconcile v.i. marrun
recover v.i. kangu-yord(mu)
v.i. yolh-bon
rejoice adj. djurrk
relieved v.i. kangu-yalway(mu)
v.i. kangu-yerrk(mu)
v.i. kangu-yord(mu)
v.i. yolh-yerrk(mu)
v.i. yolh-yord(mu)
resent v.refl. yolh-wokarrun
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 31
v.i. njirrk(mu)
v.t. ngurrung-dung
v.i. kodj-njirrk(mu)
rested v.i. yolh-yalala(mu)
v.i. yolh-yord(mu)
S – s
sad v.i. dje-bruH(mu)
v.i. kangu-damh(mu)
v.i. kangu-run
v.i. kangu-wurdah(mu)
v.i. marrburrun
v.i. wurdah(mu)
scare v.t. kelehmu
v.t. wurrhka
scared NA. djong(-no)
v.i. djong-marrun
v.i. djong-mun
v.i. dolku-yermu
v.i. kangu-marrka
v.i. mud-kele-mun
v.i. wurrh(mu)
selfish adj. kangu-murduk
adj. kodj-murduk
adj. yi-dih
adj. yolh-murduk
v.adj. mo-murduk
shame v.t. yerka
v.t. yermikan
shocked v.i. kangu-barrh(mu)
shy v.i. dalu-yer(mu)
v.i. yer(mu)
shy away v.i. yer(mu)
smart adj. kodj-burrama
v.t. kodj-mon
sour adj. brang-no
stare at v.t. kuhmu
stinking adj. brang-no
stir up v.t. djurrkkan
v.t. kangu-yirru-djurrkkan
stir up anger v.t. kangu-yirru-wayhka
v.t. yirru-wayhka
stress v.i. ngerh-dorlhdorlh(mu)
v.i. ngerh-dowdow(mu)
strong v.adj. mo-murduk
strong (emotionally) adj. ngerh-murduk
stumped v.i. njirrk(mu)
suffer (emotionally) v.i. kangu-wurdah(mu)
v.i. wurdah(mu)
sulky v.i. dje-bruH(mu)
v.i. kodj-dadj(mu)
v.i. kormu
v.i. yolh-warndih
surprised v.i. kangu-barrh(mu)
v.i. koh-wurrh(mu)
v.i. wurrh(mu)
T – t
tame adj. djong-bruk
tantrum (have a) v.i. yolh-boled(mu)
tenacious adj. kodj-murduk
ticklish v.i. yedjmun
tired v.i. mo-wudj(mu)
v.i. yolh-wudj(mu)
touch (emotionally) v.t. kangu-mang
trick v.t. wurrhka
trouble n.GEN. yirru
turn back v.t. dolku-ngabbun
U – u
uncomfortable v.i. kangu-kurduh(mu)
v.i. yolh-kurduh(mu)
understand (emotionally) v.t. yolh-nan
understand someone (emotionally)
v.t. kangu-nan
upset adj. yolh-weh
v.i. kodj-dadj(mu)
v.i. kodj-njirrk(mu)
v.i. njirrk(mu)
v.i. wirrihmurrun
upset (against someone) v.t. kodj-dukkan
Dalabon Emotion Glossary – 32
V – v
vengeful v.i. kangu-muk(mu)
v.refl. mo-barrun
venomous adj. brang-no
W – w
want adj. djare
well-behaved adj. djong-bruk
will n.PA. yolh-no
wise adj. kodj-burrama
worry v.i. kangu-darr(mu)
v.i. kangu-wurdah(mu)
v.i. ngerh-dorlhdorlh(mu)
v.i. ngerh-dowdow(mu)
v.i. warriburrun
v.i. wurda